When writing near and far Chinese characters, it is generally recommended to start with the near character. This approach is based on the principle of visual recognition and ease of writing. Near characters are those that are more commonly used and have a higher frequency of occurrence in written Chinese. According to a study by the Chinese Language and Culture University, near characters account for approximately 80% of all characters used in modern Chinese writing. Starting with these characters ensures that the reader can more easily recognize and understand the text.

The rationale behind this recommendation is rooted in the cognitive processes involved in reading and writing. When individuals encounter a character, their brain first attempts to recognize the character based on its visual form. Near characters, due to their frequent occurrence, are more likely to be stored in the reader's long-term memory, making them easier to recognize quickly. This cognitive advantage is further supported by data from a study published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, which found that readers who were familiar with near characters were able to process them more quickly and accurately compared to far characters.

Moreover, starting with near characters can also facilitate the writing process. The ease of writing these characters can help maintain a consistent flow of writing, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving overall writing speed. A study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that writers who began with near characters were able to maintain a higher level of accuracy and speed throughout the writing task compared to those who started with far characters.

In conclusion, the recommendation to write near characters first in near and far character pairs is supported by both cognitive and empirical evidence. The higher frequency of near characters in modern Chinese writing, combined with their ease of recognition and writing, makes them the optimal choice for initiating character pairs.