The article examines history of the emergence and subsequent use of the term “cultural space of Chinese characters” (Chinese. 汉字文化圈 / 漢字文化圈 Hanzi Wenhua Quan; jap. 漢字文圏 Kanji Bunka-ken). The term was proposed by the Japanese scholar Kamei Takashi and later became widespread outside of Japan, especially in China, where it fit organically into the state language policy of “soft power”, contributing to the cultural integration of “hieroglyphic” countries and strengthening the civilizational influence of China in Asia.