Logographic writing, where characters simply stand for concepts rather than having any direct relation to sound, has its most complete expression in Chinese characters. This system of orthography has large disadvantages of difficultly of comprehension, unnecessary complexity, and manifold other issues. Its one great compensating virtue is that it can be read equally easily everywhere where the script is used, even if the actual languages are not even related. This is obviously a massive boon to administration and unification of multiethnic, multilinguistic empires. China has historically been dominated by such polities. Did early Chinese empires, such as the Shang, promote logographic writing to cement their hold on power, or did already-existing logographic writing merely set the stage for their rise?