Was Chinese the first written language?

No, Chinese is not the first written language. While Chinese writing is one of the oldest continuous writing systems in the world, dating back to around 1200 BCE, it's not the first.

Here are some earlier writing systems:

* Cuneiform: Originated in ancient Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE.

* Egyptian hieroglyphs: Developed around 3200 BCE in ancient Egypt.

* Indus script: Found on seals and other artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to around 3000 BCE. While the script remains undeciphered, it is widely believed to represent a written language.

Therefore, while Chinese writing is incredibly ancient, it's not the absolute earliest.