diff --git a/src/etc/unicode.py b/src/etc/unicode.py
index 0f6e1c4c606..d7c2016912c 100755
--- a/src/etc/unicode.py
+++ b/src/etc/unicode.py
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ def emit_property_module(f, mod, tbl):
     keys.sort()
     emit_bsearch_range_table(f);
     for cat in keys:
+        if cat == "Cs": continue
         f.write("    static %s_table : &'static [(char,char)] = &[\n" % cat)
         ix = 0
         for pair in tbl[cat]:
diff --git a/src/libextra/ebml.rs b/src/libextra/ebml.rs
index f66677c21f7..3527a7b5e55 100644
--- a/src/libextra/ebml.rs
+++ b/src/libextra/ebml.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 #[allow(missing_doc)];
 
-
 use std::str;
 
 // Simple Extensible Binary Markup Language (ebml) reader and writer on a
@@ -90,6 +89,7 @@ pub enum EbmlEncoderTag {
 // --------------------------------------
 
 pub mod reader {
+    use std::char;
     use super::*;
 
     use serialize;
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ pub mod reader {
             (unsafe { transmute::<u64, f64>(bits) }) as float
         }
         fn read_char(&mut self) -> char {
-            doc_as_u32(self.next_doc(EsChar)) as char
+            char::from_u32(doc_as_u32(self.next_doc(EsChar))).unwrap()
         }
         fn read_str(&mut self) -> ~str {
             self.next_doc(EsStr).as_str()
diff --git a/src/libextra/json.rs b/src/libextra/json.rs
index 911d53da909..bc8c08d4643 100644
--- a/src/libextra/json.rs
+++ b/src/libextra/json.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 //! json parsing and serialization
 
+use std::char;
+use std::cast::transmute;
 use std::iterator;
 use std::float;
 use std::hashmap::HashMap;
@@ -490,7 +492,7 @@ pub struct Parser<T> {
 pub fn Parser<T : iterator::Iterator<char>>(rdr: ~T) -> Parser<T> {
     let mut p = Parser {
         rdr: rdr,
-        ch: 0 as char,
+        ch: '\x00',
         line: 1,
         col: 0,
     };
@@ -517,12 +519,13 @@ impl<T: iterator::Iterator<char>> Parser<T> {
 }
 
 impl<T : iterator::Iterator<char>> Parser<T> {
-    fn eof(&self) -> bool { self.ch == -1 as char }
+    // FIXME: #8971: unsound
+    fn eof(&self) -> bool { self.ch == unsafe { transmute(-1u32) } }
 
     fn bump(&mut self) {
         match self.rdr.next() {
             Some(ch) => self.ch = ch,
-            None() => self.ch = -1 as char,
+            None() => self.ch = unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }, // FIXME: #8971: unsound
         }
 
         if self.ch == '\n' {
@@ -755,7 +758,7 @@ impl<T : iterator::Iterator<char>> Parser<T> {
                             ~"invalid \\u escape (not four digits)");
                       }
 
-                      res.push_char(n as char);
+                      res.push_char(char::from_u32(n as u32).unwrap());
                   }
                   _ => return self.error(~"invalid escape")
                 }
diff --git a/src/libextra/terminfo/parm.rs b/src/libextra/terminfo/parm.rs
index 10f1b330c5b..c607ea03bb3 100644
--- a/src/libextra/terminfo/parm.rs
+++ b/src/libextra/terminfo/parm.rs
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ pub fn expand(cap: &[u8], params: &[Param], vars: &mut Variables)
                             ' ' => flags.space = true,
                             '.' => fstate = FormatStatePrecision,
                             '0'..'9' => {
-                                flags.width = (cur - '0') as uint;
+                                flags.width = (cur as uint - '0' as uint);
                                 fstate = FormatStateWidth;
                             }
                             _ => util::unreachable()
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ pub fn expand(cap: &[u8], params: &[Param], vars: &mut Variables)
                         state = Nothing;
                     }
                     '0'..'9' => {
-                        state = IntConstant(i*10 + ((cur - '0') as int));
+                        state = IntConstant(i*10 + (cur as int - '0' as int));
                         old_state = Nothing;
                     }
                     _ => return Err(~"bad int constant")
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ pub fn expand(cap: &[u8], params: &[Param], vars: &mut Variables)
                         flags.space = true;
                     }
                     (FormatStateFlags,'0'..'9') => {
-                        flags.width = (cur - '0') as uint;
+                        flags.width = (cur as uint - '0' as uint);
                         *fstate = FormatStateWidth;
                     }
                     (FormatStateFlags,'.') => {
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ pub fn expand(cap: &[u8], params: &[Param], vars: &mut Variables)
                     }
                     (FormatStateWidth,'0'..'9') => {
                         let old = flags.width;
-                        flags.width = flags.width * 10 + ((cur - '0') as uint);
+                        flags.width = flags.width * 10 + (cur as uint - '0' as uint);
                         if flags.width < old { return Err(~"format width overflow") }
                     }
                     (FormatStateWidth,'.') => {
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ pub fn expand(cap: &[u8], params: &[Param], vars: &mut Variables)
                     }
                     (FormatStatePrecision,'0'..'9') => {
                         let old = flags.precision;
-                        flags.precision = flags.precision * 10 + ((cur - '0') as uint);
+                        flags.precision = flags.precision * 10 + (cur as uint - '0' as uint);
                         if flags.precision < old { return Err(~"format precision overflow") }
                     }
                     _ => return Err(~"invalid format specifier")
diff --git a/src/libextra/url.rs b/src/libextra/url.rs
index 579e17e9f8f..8a00be0e18a 100644
--- a/src/libextra/url.rs
+++ b/src/libextra/url.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ fn encode_inner(s: &str, full_url: bool) -> ~str {
         let mut out = ~"";
 
         while !rdr.eof() {
-            let ch = rdr.read_byte() as char;
+            let ch = rdr.read_byte() as u8 as char;
             match ch {
               // unreserved:
               'A' .. 'Z' |
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ fn decode_inner(s: &str, full_url: bool) -> ~str {
             match rdr.read_char() {
               '%' => {
                 let bytes = rdr.read_bytes(2u);
-                let ch = uint::parse_bytes(bytes, 16u).unwrap() as char;
+                let ch = uint::parse_bytes(bytes, 16u).unwrap() as u8 as char;
 
                 if full_url {
                     // Only decode some characters:
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ fn encode_plus(s: &str) -> ~str {
         let mut out = ~"";
 
         while !rdr.eof() {
-            let ch = rdr.read_byte() as char;
+            let ch = rdr.read_byte() as u8 as char;
             match ch {
               'A' .. 'Z' | 'a' .. 'z' | '0' .. '9' | '_' | '.' | '-' => {
                 out.push_char(ch);
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ pub fn decode_form_urlencoded(s: &[u8]) -> HashMap<~str, ~[~str]> {
                     let ch = match ch {
                         '%' => {
                             let bytes = rdr.read_bytes(2u);
-                            uint::parse_bytes(bytes, 16u).unwrap() as char
+                            uint::parse_bytes(bytes, 16u).unwrap() as u8 as char
                         }
                         '+' => ' ',
                         ch => ch
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ fn split_char_first(s: &str, c: char) -> (~str, ~str) {
     do io::with_str_reader(s) |rdr| {
         let mut ch;
         while !rdr.eof() {
-            ch = rdr.read_byte() as char;
+            ch = rdr.read_byte() as u8 as char;
             if ch == c {
                 // found a match, adjust markers
                 index = rdr.tell()-1;
diff --git a/src/librustc/metadata/tyencode.rs b/src/librustc/metadata/tyencode.rs
index 86821200796..e81da60ed17 100644
--- a/src/librustc/metadata/tyencode.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/metadata/tyencode.rs
@@ -239,10 +239,10 @@ fn enc_sty(w: @io::Writer, cx: @ctxt, st: &ty::sty) {
       ty::ty_nil => w.write_char('n'),
       ty::ty_bot => w.write_char('z'),
       ty::ty_bool => w.write_char('b'),
+      ty::ty_char => w.write_char('c'),
       ty::ty_int(t) => {
         match t {
           ty_i => w.write_char('i'),
-          ty_char => w.write_char('c'),
           ty_i8 => w.write_str(&"MB"),
           ty_i16 => w.write_str(&"MW"),
           ty_i32 => w.write_str(&"ML"),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/check_const.rs b/src/librustc/middle/check_const.rs
index 1ef3b6b7869..26427648674 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/check_const.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/check_const.rs
@@ -200,21 +200,19 @@ pub fn check_expr(v: &mut CheckCrateVisitor,
         }
     }
     match e.node {
-      ExprLit(@codemap::Spanned {node: lit_int(v, t), _}) => {
-        if t != ty_char {
+        ExprLit(@codemap::Spanned {node: lit_int(v, t), _}) => {
             if (v as u64) > ast_util::int_ty_max(
                 if t == ty_i { sess.targ_cfg.int_type } else { t }) {
                 sess.span_err(e.span, "literal out of range for its type");
             }
         }
-      }
-      ExprLit(@codemap::Spanned {node: lit_uint(v, t), _}) => {
-        if v > ast_util::uint_ty_max(
-            if t == ty_u { sess.targ_cfg.uint_type } else { t }) {
-            sess.span_err(e.span, "literal out of range for its type");
+        ExprLit(@codemap::Spanned {node: lit_uint(v, t), _}) => {
+            if v > ast_util::uint_ty_max(
+                if t == ty_u { sess.targ_cfg.uint_type } else { t }) {
+                sess.span_err(e.span, "literal out of range for its type");
+            }
         }
-      }
-      _ => ()
+        _ => ()
     }
     visit::walk_expr(v, e, is_const);
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/const_eval.rs b/src/librustc/middle/const_eval.rs
index be09dde322b..ad9a3b2f4e7 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/const_eval.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/const_eval.rs
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@ pub fn eval_const_expr_partial<T: ty::ExprTyProvider>(tcx: &T, e: &Expr)
 pub fn lit_to_const(lit: &lit) -> const_val {
     match lit.node {
       lit_str(s) => const_str(s),
+      lit_char(n) => const_uint(n as u64),
       lit_int(n, _) => const_int(n),
       lit_uint(n, _) => const_uint(n),
       lit_int_unsuffixed(n) => const_int(n),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/lint.rs b/src/librustc/middle/lint.rs
index 1e1be5f7a13..6f4d94e2a64 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/lint.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/lint.rs
@@ -778,7 +778,6 @@ impl TypeLimitsLintVisitor {
     fn int_ty_range(&mut self, int_ty: ast::int_ty) -> (i64, i64) {
         match int_ty {
             ast::ty_i =>    (i64::min_value,        i64::max_value),
-            ast::ty_char => (u32::min_value as i64, u32::max_value as i64),
             ast::ty_i8 =>   (i8::min_value  as i64, i8::max_value  as i64),
             ast::ty_i16 =>  (i16::min_value as i64, i16::max_value as i64),
             ast::ty_i32 =>  (i32::min_value as i64, i32::max_value as i64),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/resolve.rs b/src/librustc/middle/resolve.rs
index ddf358841f7..09491bd28be 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/resolve.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/resolve.rs
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ pub fn PrimitiveTypeTable() -> PrimitiveTypeTable {
     };
 
     table.intern("bool",    ty_bool);
-    table.intern("char",    ty_int(ty_char));
+    table.intern("char",    ty_char);
     table.intern("float",   ty_float(ty_f));
     table.intern("f32",     ty_float(ty_f32));
     table.intern("f64",     ty_float(ty_f64));
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/base.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/base.rs
index 251ce697d53..2ed9af42248 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/base.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/base.rs
@@ -566,6 +566,7 @@ pub fn compare_scalar_types(cx: @mut Block,
     match ty::get(t).sty {
         ty::ty_nil => rslt(cx, f(nil_type)),
         ty::ty_bool | ty::ty_ptr(_) => rslt(cx, f(unsigned_int)),
+        ty::ty_char => rslt(cx, f(unsigned_int)),
         ty::ty_int(_) => rslt(cx, f(signed_int)),
         ty::ty_uint(_) => rslt(cx, f(unsigned_int)),
         ty::ty_float(_) => rslt(cx, f(floating_point)),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/consts.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/consts.rs
index 64cfe13553d..096e37136ac 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/consts.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/consts.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ pub fn const_lit(cx: &mut CrateContext, e: &ast::Expr, lit: ast::lit)
     -> ValueRef {
     let _icx = push_ctxt("trans_lit");
     match lit.node {
+      ast::lit_char(i) => C_integral(Type::char(), i as u64, false),
       ast::lit_int(i, t) => C_integral(Type::int_from_ty(cx, t), i as u64, true),
       ast::lit_uint(u, t) => C_integral(Type::uint_from_ty(cx, t), u, false),
       ast::lit_int_unsuffixed(i) => {
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/debuginfo.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/debuginfo.rs
index 71a9f4de4a0..a9e3a869be0 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/debuginfo.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/debuginfo.rs
@@ -746,9 +746,9 @@ fn basic_type_metadata(cx: &mut CrateContext, t: ty::t) -> DIType {
     let (name, encoding) = match ty::get(t).sty {
         ty::ty_nil | ty::ty_bot => (~"uint", DW_ATE_unsigned),
         ty::ty_bool => (~"bool", DW_ATE_boolean),
+        ty::ty_char => (~"char", DW_ATE_unsigned_char),
         ty::ty_int(int_ty) => match int_ty {
             ast::ty_i => (~"int", DW_ATE_signed),
-            ast::ty_char => (~"char", DW_ATE_signed_char),
             ast::ty_i8 => (~"i8", DW_ATE_signed),
             ast::ty_i16 => (~"i16", DW_ATE_signed),
             ast::ty_i32 => (~"i32", DW_ATE_signed),
@@ -1344,6 +1344,7 @@ fn type_metadata(cx: &mut CrateContext,
         ty::ty_nil      |
         ty::ty_bot      |
         ty::ty_bool     |
+        ty::ty_char     |
         ty::ty_int(_)   |
         ty::ty_uint(_)  |
         ty::ty_float(_) => {
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/expr.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/expr.rs
index 91f26b25865..ce6fb6d3e77 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/expr.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/expr.rs
@@ -1630,6 +1630,7 @@ pub enum cast_kind {
 
 pub fn cast_type_kind(t: ty::t) -> cast_kind {
     match ty::get(t).sty {
+        ty::ty_char       => cast_integral,
         ty::ty_float(*)   => cast_float,
         ty::ty_ptr(*)     => cast_pointer,
         ty::ty_rptr(*)    => cast_pointer,
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/reflect.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/reflect.rs
index b83ddf27dba..fb46aefbafe 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/reflect.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/reflect.rs
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ impl Reflector {
           ty::ty_bot => self.leaf("bot"),
           ty::ty_nil => self.leaf("nil"),
           ty::ty_bool => self.leaf("bool"),
+          ty::ty_char => self.leaf("char"),
           ty::ty_int(ast::ty_i) => self.leaf("int"),
-          ty::ty_int(ast::ty_char) => self.leaf("char"),
           ty::ty_int(ast::ty_i8) => self.leaf("i8"),
           ty::ty_int(ast::ty_i16) => self.leaf("i16"),
           ty::ty_int(ast::ty_i32) => self.leaf("i32"),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_.rs
index 281c047641c..8b221a89c36 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ impl Type {
     pub fn int_from_ty(ctx: &CrateContext, t: ast::int_ty) -> Type {
         match t {
             ast::ty_i => ctx.int_type,
-            ast::ty_char => Type::char(),
             ast::ty_i8 => Type::i8(),
             ast::ty_i16 => Type::i16(),
             ast::ty_i32 => Type::i32(),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_of.rs b/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_of.rs
index 3fc5bcc8f7b..945d5a048bb 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_of.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/trans/type_of.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ pub fn sizing_type_of(cx: &mut CrateContext, t: ty::t) -> Type {
     let llsizingty = match ty::get(t).sty {
         ty::ty_nil | ty::ty_bot => Type::nil(),
         ty::ty_bool => Type::bool(),
+        ty::ty_char => Type::char(),
         ty::ty_int(t) => Type::int_from_ty(cx, t),
         ty::ty_uint(t) => Type::uint_from_ty(cx, t),
         ty::ty_float(t) => Type::float_from_ty(cx, t),
@@ -195,6 +196,7 @@ pub fn type_of(cx: &mut CrateContext, t: ty::t) -> Type {
     let mut llty = match ty::get(t).sty {
       ty::ty_nil | ty::ty_bot => Type::nil(),
       ty::ty_bool => Type::bool(),
+      ty::ty_char => Type::char(),
       ty::ty_int(t) => Type::int_from_ty(cx, t),
       ty::ty_uint(t) => Type::uint_from_ty(cx, t),
       ty::ty_float(t) => Type::float_from_ty(cx, t),
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/ty.rs b/src/librustc/middle/ty.rs
index dc26350d88d..0958eeb7097 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/ty.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/ty.rs
@@ -572,8 +572,8 @@ mod primitives {
 
     def_prim_ty!(TY_NIL,    super::ty_nil,                  0)
     def_prim_ty!(TY_BOOL,   super::ty_bool,                 1)
-    def_prim_ty!(TY_INT,    super::ty_int(ast::ty_i),       2)
-    def_prim_ty!(TY_CHAR,   super::ty_int(ast::ty_char),    3)
+    def_prim_ty!(TY_CHAR,   super::ty_char,                 2)
+    def_prim_ty!(TY_INT,    super::ty_int(ast::ty_i),       3)
     def_prim_ty!(TY_I8,     super::ty_int(ast::ty_i8),      4)
     def_prim_ty!(TY_I16,    super::ty_int(ast::ty_i16),     5)
     def_prim_ty!(TY_I32,    super::ty_int(ast::ty_i32),     6)
@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@ pub enum sty {
     ty_nil,
     ty_bot,
     ty_bool,
+    ty_char,
     ty_int(ast::int_ty),
     ty_uint(ast::uint_ty),
     ty_float(ast::float_ty),
@@ -1016,7 +1017,7 @@ fn mk_t(cx: ctxt, st: sty) -> t {
         flags |= rflags(r);
         flags |= get(mt.ty).flags;
       }
-      &ty_nil | &ty_bool | &ty_int(_) | &ty_float(_) | &ty_uint(_) |
+      &ty_nil | &ty_bool | &ty_char | &ty_int(_) | &ty_float(_) | &ty_uint(_) |
       &ty_estr(_) | &ty_type | &ty_opaque_closure_ptr(_) |
       &ty_opaque_box => (),
       // You might think that we could just return ty_err for
@@ -1147,7 +1148,6 @@ pub fn mk_u64() -> t { mk_prim_t(&primitives::TY_U64) }
 pub fn mk_mach_int(tm: ast::int_ty) -> t {
     match tm {
         ast::ty_i    => mk_int(),
-        ast::ty_char => mk_char(),
         ast::ty_i8   => mk_i8(),
         ast::ty_i16  => mk_i16(),
         ast::ty_i32  => mk_i32(),
@@ -1303,7 +1303,7 @@ pub fn maybe_walk_ty(ty: t, f: &fn(t) -> bool) {
         return;
     }
     match get(ty).sty {
-      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
+      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
       ty_estr(_) | ty_type | ty_opaque_box | ty_self(_) |
       ty_opaque_closure_ptr(_) | ty_infer(_) | ty_param(_) | ty_err => {
       }
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ fn fold_sty(sty: &sty, fldop: &fn(t) -> t) -> sty {
         ty_struct(did, ref substs) => {
             ty_struct(did, fold_substs(substs, fldop))
         }
-        ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
+        ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
         ty_estr(_) | ty_type | ty_opaque_closure_ptr(_) | ty_err |
         ty_opaque_box | ty_infer(_) | ty_param(*) | ty_self(_) => {
             (*sty).clone()
@@ -1745,7 +1745,7 @@ pub fn type_is_unique(ty: t) -> bool {
 */
 pub fn type_is_scalar(ty: t) -> bool {
     match get(ty).sty {
-      ty_nil | ty_bool | ty_int(_) | ty_float(_) | ty_uint(_) |
+      ty_nil | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) | ty_float(_) | ty_uint(_) |
       ty_infer(IntVar(_)) | ty_infer(FloatVar(_)) | ty_type |
       ty_bare_fn(*) | ty_ptr(_) => true,
       _ => false
@@ -2079,7 +2079,7 @@ pub fn type_contents(cx: ctxt, ty: t) -> TypeContents {
 
         let result = match get(ty).sty {
             // Scalar and unique types are sendable, freezable, and durable
-            ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
+            ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) |
             ty_bare_fn(_) | ty_ptr(_) => {
                 TC_NONE
             }
@@ -2414,6 +2414,7 @@ pub fn is_instantiable(cx: ctxt, r_ty: t) -> bool {
             ty_nil |
             ty_bot |
             ty_bool |
+            ty_char |
             ty_int(_) |
             ty_uint(_) |
             ty_float(_) |
@@ -2551,7 +2552,7 @@ pub fn type_is_integral(ty: t) -> bool {
 
 pub fn type_is_char(ty: t) -> bool {
     match get(ty).sty {
-        ty_int(ty_char) => true,
+        ty_char => true,
         _ => false
     }
 }
@@ -2588,7 +2589,7 @@ pub fn type_is_pod(cx: ctxt, ty: t) -> bool {
     let mut result = true;
     match get(ty).sty {
       // Scalar types
-      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(_) | ty_float(_) | ty_uint(_) |
+      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) | ty_float(_) | ty_uint(_) |
       ty_type | ty_ptr(_) | ty_bare_fn(_) => result = true,
       // Boxed types
       ty_box(_) | ty_uniq(_) | ty_closure(_) |
@@ -3428,7 +3429,7 @@ pub fn occurs_check(tcx: ctxt, sp: Span, vid: TyVid, rt: t) {
 
 pub fn ty_sort_str(cx: ctxt, t: t) -> ~str {
     match get(t).sty {
-      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(_) |
+      ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(_) |
       ty_uint(_) | ty_float(_) | ty_estr(_) |
       ty_type | ty_opaque_box | ty_opaque_closure_ptr(_) => {
         ::util::ppaux::ty_to_str(cx, t)
@@ -4262,10 +4263,11 @@ pub fn struct_fields(cx: ctxt, did: ast::DefId, substs: &substs)
 pub fn is_binopable(cx: ctxt, ty: t, op: ast::BinOp) -> bool {
     static tycat_other: int = 0;
     static tycat_bool: int = 1;
-    static tycat_int: int = 2;
-    static tycat_float: int = 3;
-    static tycat_struct: int = 4;
-    static tycat_bot: int = 5;
+    static tycat_char: int = 2;
+    static tycat_int: int = 3;
+    static tycat_float: int = 4;
+    static tycat_struct: int = 5;
+    static tycat_bot: int = 6;
 
     static opcat_add: int = 0;
     static opcat_sub: int = 1;
@@ -4304,6 +4306,7 @@ pub fn is_binopable(cx: ctxt, ty: t, op: ast::BinOp) -> bool {
             return tycat(cx, simd_type(cx, ty))
         }
         match get(ty).sty {
+          ty_char => tycat_char,
           ty_bool => tycat_bool,
           ty_int(_) | ty_uint(_) | ty_infer(IntVar(_)) => tycat_int,
           ty_float(_) | ty_infer(FloatVar(_)) => tycat_float,
@@ -4316,16 +4319,15 @@ pub fn is_binopable(cx: ctxt, ty: t, op: ast::BinOp) -> bool {
     static t: bool = true;
     static f: bool = false;
 
-    let tbl = ~[
-    /*.          add,     shift,   bit
-      .             sub,     rel,     logic
-      .                mult,    eq,         */
-    /*other*/   ~[f, f, f, f, f, f, f, f],
-    /*bool*/    ~[f, f, f, f, t, t, t, t],
-    /*int*/     ~[t, t, t, t, t, t, t, f],
-    /*float*/   ~[t, t, t, f, t, t, f, f],
-    /*bot*/     ~[f, f, f, f, f, f, f, f],
-    /*struct*/  ~[t, t, t, t, f, f, t, t]];
+    let tbl = [
+    //           +, -, *, shift, rel, ==, bit, logic
+    /*other*/   [f, f, f, f,     f,   f,  f,   f],
+    /*bool*/    [f, f, f, f,     t,   t,  t,   t],
+    /*char*/    [f, f, f, f,     t,   t,  f,   f],
+    /*int*/     [t, t, t, t,     t,   t,  t,   f],
+    /*float*/   [t, t, t, f,     t,   t,  f,   f],
+    /*bot*/     [f, f, f, f,     f,   f,  f,   f],
+    /*struct*/  [t, t, t, t,     f,   f,  t,   t]];
 
     return tbl[tycat(cx, ty)][opcat(op)];
 }
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/astconv.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/astconv.rs
index c0825a9c0b6..c5f85d26e44 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/astconv.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/astconv.rs
@@ -455,6 +455,10 @@ pub fn ast_ty_to_ty<AC:AstConv, RS:RegionScope + Clone + 'static>(
                 check_path_args(tcx, path, NO_TPS | NO_REGIONS);
                 ty::mk_bool()
               }
+              ast::ty_char => {
+                check_path_args(tcx, path, NO_TPS | NO_REGIONS);
+                ty::mk_char()
+              }
               ast::ty_int(it) => {
                 check_path_args(tcx, path, NO_TPS | NO_REGIONS);
                 ty::mk_mach_int(it)
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/_match.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/_match.rs
index bb3ed2e15d0..d0beb5c609e 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/_match.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/_match.rs
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ pub fn check_pat(pcx: &pat_ctxt, pat: @ast::Pat, expected: ty::t) {
             || ~"mismatched types in range")
         {
             // no-op
-        } else if !ty::type_is_numeric(b_ty) {
+        } else if !ty::type_is_numeric(b_ty) && !ty::type_is_char(b_ty) {
             tcx.sess.span_err(pat.span, "non-numeric type used in range");
         } else {
             match valid_range_bounds(fcx.ccx, begin, end) {
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/method.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/method.rs
index 75ccfdbf9dd..3588fb3f51e 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/method.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/method.rs
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ impl<'self> LookupContext<'self> {
             ty_infer(IntVar(_)) |
             ty_infer(FloatVar(_)) |
             ty_self(_) | ty_param(*) | ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool |
-            ty_int(*) | ty_uint(*) |
+            ty_char | ty_int(*) | ty_uint(*) |
             ty_float(*) | ty_enum(*) | ty_ptr(*) | ty_struct(*) | ty_tup(*) |
             ty_estr(*) | ty_evec(*) | ty_trait(*) | ty_closure(*) => {
                 self.search_for_some_kind_of_autorefd_method(
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/mod.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/mod.rs
index ddf5a91202b..9afcec7c340 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/check/mod.rs
@@ -1021,6 +1021,7 @@ pub fn check_lit(fcx: @mut FnCtxt, lit: @ast::lit) -> ty::t {
 
     match lit.node {
       ast::lit_str(*) => ty::mk_estr(tcx, ty::vstore_slice(ty::re_static)),
+      ast::lit_char(_) => ty::mk_char(),
       ast::lit_int(_, t) => ty::mk_mach_int(t),
       ast::lit_uint(_, t) => ty::mk_mach_uint(t),
       ast::lit_int_unsuffixed(_) => {
@@ -2695,10 +2696,20 @@ pub fn check_expr_with_unifier(fcx: @mut FnCtxt,
                         }, t_e, None);
                     }
 
-                    let t_1_is_scalar = type_is_scalar(fcx, expr.span, t_1);
-                    if type_is_c_like_enum(fcx,expr.span,t_e)
-                        && t_1_is_scalar {
-                        /* this case is allowed */
+                    let te = structurally_resolved_type(fcx, e.span, t_e);
+                    let t_1_is_char = type_is_char(fcx, expr.span, t_1);
+
+                    // casts to scalars other than `char` are allowed
+                    let t_1_is_trivial = type_is_scalar(fcx, expr.span, t_1) && !t_1_is_char;
+
+                    if type_is_c_like_enum(fcx, expr.span, t_e) && t_1_is_trivial {
+                        // casts from C-like enums are allowed
+                    } else if t_1_is_char {
+                        if ty::get(te).sty != ty::ty_uint(ast::ty_u8) {
+                            fcx.type_error_message(expr.span, |actual| {
+                                fmt!("only `u8` can be cast as `char`, not `%s`", actual)
+                            }, t_e, None);
+                        }
                     } else if type_is_region_ptr(fcx, expr.span, t_e) &&
                         type_is_unsafe_ptr(fcx, expr.span, t_1) {
 
@@ -2729,7 +2740,6 @@ pub fn check_expr_with_unifier(fcx: @mut FnCtxt,
 
                         /* this cast is only allowed from &[T] to *T or
                         &T to *T. */
-                        let te = structurally_resolved_type(fcx, e.span, t_e);
                         match (&ty::get(te).sty, &ty::get(t_1).sty) {
                             (&ty::ty_rptr(_, mt1), &ty::ty_ptr(mt2))
                             if types_compatible(fcx, e.span,
@@ -2741,7 +2751,7 @@ pub fn check_expr_with_unifier(fcx: @mut FnCtxt,
                             }
                         }
                     } else if !(type_is_scalar(fcx,expr.span,t_e)
-                                && t_1_is_scalar) {
+                                && t_1_is_trivial) {
                         /*
                         If more type combinations should be supported than are
                         supported here, then file an enhancement issue and
@@ -3439,6 +3449,11 @@ pub fn type_is_scalar(fcx: @mut FnCtxt, sp: Span, typ: ty::t) -> bool {
     return ty::type_is_scalar(typ_s);
 }
 
+pub fn type_is_char(fcx: @mut FnCtxt, sp: Span, typ: ty::t) -> bool {
+    let typ_s = structurally_resolved_type(fcx, sp, typ);
+    return ty::type_is_char(typ_s);
+}
+
 pub fn type_is_unsafe_ptr(fcx: @mut FnCtxt, sp: Span, typ: ty::t) -> bool {
     let typ_s = structurally_resolved_type(fcx, sp, typ);
     return ty::type_is_unsafe_ptr(typ_s);
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/coherence.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/coherence.rs
index 3f18b21dcd3..738ed9656e3 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/coherence.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/coherence.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ use metadata::csearch;
 use metadata::cstore::iter_crate_data;
 use middle::ty::get;
 use middle::ty::{ImplContainer, lookup_item_type, subst};
-use middle::ty::{substs, t, ty_bool, ty_bot, ty_box, ty_enum, ty_err};
+use middle::ty::{substs, t, ty_bool, ty_char, ty_bot, ty_box, ty_enum, ty_err};
 use middle::ty::{ty_estr, ty_evec, ty_float, ty_infer, ty_int, ty_nil};
 use middle::ty::{ty_opaque_box, ty_param, ty_param_bounds_and_ty, ty_ptr};
 use middle::ty::{ty_rptr, ty_self, ty_struct, ty_trait, ty_tup};
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ pub fn get_base_type(inference_context: @mut InferCtxt,
             Some(resolved_type)
         }
 
-        ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_int(*) | ty_uint(*) | ty_float(*) |
+        ty_nil | ty_bot | ty_bool | ty_char | ty_int(*) | ty_uint(*) | ty_float(*) |
         ty_estr(*) | ty_evec(*) | ty_bare_fn(*) | ty_closure(*) | ty_tup(*) |
         ty_infer(*) | ty_param(*) | ty_self(*) | ty_type | ty_opaque_box |
         ty_opaque_closure_ptr(*) | ty_unboxed_vec(*) | ty_err | ty_box(_) |
diff --git a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/infer/combine.rs b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/infer/combine.rs
index 2dd7a4e88b1..b04719ee3ce 100644
--- a/src/librustc/middle/typeck/infer/combine.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/middle/typeck/infer/combine.rs
@@ -610,14 +610,10 @@ pub fn super_tys<C:Combine>(
         vid: ty::IntVid,
         val: ty::IntVarValue) -> cres<ty::t>
     {
-        if val == IntType(ast::ty_char) {
-            Err(ty::terr_integer_as_char)
-        } else {
-            if_ok!(this.infcx().simple_var_t(vid_is_expected, vid, val));
-            match val {
-                IntType(v) => Ok(ty::mk_mach_int(v)),
-                UintType(v) => Ok(ty::mk_mach_uint(v))
-            }
+        if_ok!(this.infcx().simple_var_t(vid_is_expected, vid, val));
+        match val {
+            IntType(v) => Ok(ty::mk_mach_int(v)),
+            UintType(v) => Ok(ty::mk_mach_uint(v))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/librustc/util/ppaux.rs b/src/librustc/util/ppaux.rs
index 104c3753452..4ce29f39131 100644
--- a/src/librustc/util/ppaux.rs
+++ b/src/librustc/util/ppaux.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use middle::ty::{br_fresh, ctxt, field};
 use middle::ty::{mt, t, param_ty};
 use middle::ty::{re_bound, re_free, re_scope, re_infer, re_static, Region,
                  re_empty};
-use middle::ty::{ty_bool, ty_bot, ty_box, ty_struct, ty_enum};
+use middle::ty::{ty_bool, ty_char, ty_bot, ty_box, ty_struct, ty_enum};
 use middle::ty::{ty_err, ty_estr, ty_evec, ty_float, ty_bare_fn, ty_closure};
 use middle::ty::{ty_nil, ty_opaque_box, ty_opaque_closure_ptr, ty_param};
 use middle::ty::{ty_ptr, ty_rptr, ty_self, ty_tup, ty_type, ty_uniq};
@@ -412,8 +412,8 @@ pub fn ty_to_str(cx: ctxt, typ: t) -> ~str {
       ty_nil => ~"()",
       ty_bot => ~"!",
       ty_bool => ~"bool",
+      ty_char => ~"char",
       ty_int(ast::ty_i) => ~"int",
-      ty_int(ast::ty_char) => ~"char",
       ty_int(t) => ast_util::int_ty_to_str(t),
       ty_uint(ast::ty_u) => ~"uint",
       ty_uint(t) => ast_util::uint_ty_to_str(t),
diff --git a/src/libstd/char.rs b/src/libstd/char.rs
index 87314b98c51..7f043b2ecaa 100644
--- a/src/libstd/char.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/char.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@
 
 //! Utilities for manipulating the char type
 
+use cast::transmute;
 use option::{None, Option, Some};
-use int;
+use i32;
 use str::StrSlice;
 use unicode::{derived_property, general_category, decompose};
 use to_str::ToStr;
@@ -64,6 +65,19 @@ static TAG_FOUR_B: uint = 240u;
     Cn  Unassigned              a reserved unassigned code point or a noncharacter
 */
 
+/// The highest valid code point
+pub static MAX: char = '\U0010ffff';
+
+/// Convert from `u32` to a character.
+pub fn from_u32(i: u32) -> Option<char> {
+    // catch out-of-bounds and surrogates
+    if (i > MAX as u32) || (i >= 0xD800 && i <= 0xDFFF) {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(unsafe { transmute(i) })
+    }
+}
+
 /// Returns whether the specified character is considered a unicode alphabetic
 /// character
 pub fn is_alphabetic(c: char) -> bool   { derived_property::Alphabetic(c) }
@@ -194,10 +208,12 @@ pub fn from_digit(num: uint, radix: uint) -> Option<char> {
         fail!("from_digit: radix %? is to high (maximum 36)", num);
     }
     if num < radix {
-        if num < 10 {
-            Some(('0' as uint + num) as char)
-        } else {
-            Some(('a' as uint + num - 10u) as char)
+        unsafe {
+            if num < 10 {
+                Some(transmute(('0' as uint + num) as u32))
+            } else {
+                Some(transmute(('a' as uint + num - 10u) as u32))
+            }
         }
     } else {
         None
@@ -220,14 +236,16 @@ fn decompose_hangul(s: char, f: &fn(char)) {
     let si = s as uint - S_BASE;
 
     let li = si / N_COUNT;
-    f((L_BASE + li) as char);
+    unsafe {
+        f(transmute((L_BASE + li) as u32));
 
-    let vi = (si % N_COUNT) / T_COUNT;
-    f((V_BASE + vi) as char);
+        let vi = (si % N_COUNT) / T_COUNT;
+        f(transmute((V_BASE + vi) as u32));
 
-    let ti = si % T_COUNT;
-    if ti > 0 {
-        f((T_BASE + ti) as char);
+        let ti = si % T_COUNT;
+        if ti > 0 {
+            f(transmute((T_BASE + ti) as u32));
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -267,10 +285,12 @@ pub fn escape_unicode(c: char, f: &fn(char)) {
         (c <= '\uffff') { f('u'); 4 }
         _               { f('U'); 8 }
     );
-    do int::range_step(4 * (pad - 1), -1, -4) |offset| {
-        match ((c as u32) >> offset) & 0xf {
-            i @ 0 .. 9 => { f('0' + i as char); }
-            i => { f('a' + (i - 10) as char); }
+    do i32::range_step(4 * (pad - 1), -1, -4) |offset| {
+        unsafe {
+            match ((c as i32) >> offset) & 0xf {
+                i @ 0 .. 9 => { f(transmute('0' as i32 + i)); }
+                i => { f(transmute('a' as i32 + (i - 10))); }
+            }
         }
         true
     };
@@ -416,8 +436,8 @@ impl Ord for char {
 
 #[cfg(not(test))]
 impl Zero for char {
-    fn zero() -> char { 0 as char }
-    fn is_zero(&self) -> bool { *self == 0 as char }
+    fn zero() -> char { '\x00' }
+    fn is_zero(&self) -> bool { *self == '\x00' }
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/src/libstd/io.rs b/src/libstd/io.rs
index 25b94e1e45d..59329c5bdd2 100644
--- a/src/libstd/io.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/io.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ implement `Reader` and `Writer`, where appropriate.
 #[allow(missing_doc)];
 
 use cast;
+use cast::transmute;
 use clone::Clone;
 use c_str::ToCStr;
 use container::Container;
@@ -661,7 +662,9 @@ impl<T:Reader> ReaderUtil for T {
                 i += 1;
                 assert!((w > 0));
                 if w == 1 {
-                    chars.push(b0 as char);
+                    unsafe {
+                        chars.push(transmute(b0 as u32));
+                    }
                     loop;
                 }
                 // can't satisfy this char with the existing data
@@ -680,7 +683,9 @@ impl<T:Reader> ReaderUtil for T {
                 // See str::StrSlice::char_at
                 val += ((b0 << ((w + 1) as u8)) as uint)
                     << (w - 1) * 6 - w - 1u;
-                chars.push(val as char);
+                unsafe {
+                    chars.push(transmute(val as u32));
+                }
             }
             return (i, 0);
         }
@@ -712,7 +717,7 @@ impl<T:Reader> ReaderUtil for T {
     fn read_char(&self) -> char {
         let c = self.read_chars(1);
         if c.len() == 0 {
-            return -1 as char; // FIXME will this stay valid? // #2004
+            return unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }; // FIXME: #8971: unsound
         }
         assert_eq!(c.len(), 1);
         return c[0];
@@ -739,9 +744,11 @@ impl<T:Reader> ReaderUtil for T {
     }
 
     fn each_char(&self, it: &fn(char) -> bool) -> bool {
+        // FIXME: #8971: unsound
+        let eof: char = unsafe { transmute(-1u32) };
         loop {
             match self.read_char() {
-                eof if eof == (-1 as char) => break,
+                c if c == eof => break,
                 ch => if !it(ch) { return false; }
             }
         }
@@ -1896,6 +1903,7 @@ mod tests {
     use result::{Ok, Err};
     use u64;
     use vec;
+    use cast::transmute;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_simple() {
@@ -2002,7 +2010,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_readchar() {
         do io::with_str_reader("生") |inp| {
-            let res : char = inp.read_char();
+            let res = inp.read_char();
             assert_eq!(res as int, 29983);
         }
     }
@@ -2010,8 +2018,8 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn test_readchar_empty() {
         do io::with_str_reader("") |inp| {
-            let res : char = inp.read_char();
-            assert_eq!(res as int, -1);
+            let res = inp.read_char();
+            assert_eq!(res, unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }); // FIXME: #8971: unsound
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libstd/rand.rs b/src/libstd/rand.rs
index c7f3fd7740b..58c75d3b408 100644
--- a/src/libstd/rand.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/rand.rs
@@ -174,13 +174,6 @@ impl Rand for f64 {
     }
 }
 
-impl Rand for char {
-    #[inline]
-    fn rand<R: Rng>(rng: &mut R) -> char {
-        rng.next() as char
-    }
-}
-
 impl Rand for bool {
     #[inline]
     fn rand<R: Rng>(rng: &mut R) -> bool {
@@ -1137,7 +1130,7 @@ mod test {
         let _f : f32 = random();
         let _o : Option<Option<i8>> = random();
         let _many : ((),
-                     (~uint, @int, ~Option<~(@char, ~(@bool,))>),
+                     (~uint, @int, ~Option<~(@u32, ~(@bool,))>),
                      (u8, i8, u16, i16, u32, i32, u64, i64),
                      (f32, (f64, (float,)))) = random();
     }
diff --git a/src/libstd/rt/io/net/ip.rs b/src/libstd/rt/io/net/ip.rs
index d1d6b16e2eb..956dd08ac91 100644
--- a/src/libstd/rt/io/net/ip.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/rt/io/net/ip.rs
@@ -163,13 +163,14 @@ impl<'self> Parser<'self> {
     // Read digit
     fn read_digit(&mut self, radix: u8) -> Option<u8> {
         fn parse_digit(c: char, radix: u8) -> Option<u8> {
+            let c = c as u8;
             // assuming radix is either 10 or 16
-            if c >= '0' && c <= '9' {
-                Some((c - '0') as u8)
-            } else if radix > 10 && c >= 'a' && c < 'a' + (radix - 10) as char {
-                Some((c - 'a' + (10 as char)) as u8)
-            } else if radix > 10 && c >= 'A' && c < 'A' + (radix - 10) as char {
-                Some((c - 'A' + (10 as char)) as u8)
+            if c >= '0' as u8 && c <= '9' as u8 {
+                Some((c - '0' as u8) as u8)
+            } else if radix > 10 && c >= 'a' as u8 && c < 'a' as u8 + (radix - 10) {
+                Some((c - 'a' as u8 + 10) as u8)
+            } else if radix > 10 && c >= 'A' as u8 && c < 'A' as u8 + (radix - 10) {
+                Some((c - 'A' as u8 + 10) as u8)
             } else {
                 None
             }
diff --git a/src/libstd/str.rs b/src/libstd/str.rs
index e4d1b324e73..6a5ec9aa6d6 100644
--- a/src/libstd/str.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/str.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 use at_vec;
 use cast;
+use cast::transmute;
 use char;
 use char::Char;
 use clone::{Clone, DeepClone};
@@ -875,18 +876,18 @@ pub fn utf16_chars(v: &[u16], f: &fn(char)) {
         let u = v[i];
 
         if  u <= 0xD7FF_u16 || u >= 0xE000_u16 {
-            f(u as char);
+            f(unsafe { cast::transmute(u as u32) });
             i += 1u;
 
         } else {
             let u2 = v[i+1u];
             assert!(u >= 0xD800_u16 && u <= 0xDBFF_u16);
             assert!(u2 >= 0xDC00_u16 && u2 <= 0xDFFF_u16);
-            let mut c = (u - 0xD800_u16) as char;
+            let mut c: u32 = (u - 0xD800_u16) as u32;
             c = c << 10;
-            c |= (u2 - 0xDC00_u16) as char;
-            c |= 0x1_0000_u32 as char;
-            f(c);
+            c |= (u2 - 0xDC00_u16) as u32;
+            c |= 0x1_0000_u32 as u32;
+            f(unsafe { cast::transmute(c) });
             i += 2u;
         }
     }
@@ -953,7 +954,6 @@ macro_rules! utf8_acc_cont_byte(
 )
 
 static TAG_CONT_U8: u8 = 128u8;
-static MAX_UNICODE: uint = 1114112u;
 
 /// Unsafe operations
 pub mod raw {
@@ -1942,7 +1942,7 @@ impl<'self> StrSlice<'self> for &'self str {
             if w > 2 { val = utf8_acc_cont_byte!(val, s[i + 2]); }
             if w > 3 { val = utf8_acc_cont_byte!(val, s[i + 3]); }
 
-            return CharRange {ch: val as char, next: i + w};
+            return CharRange {ch: unsafe { transmute(val as u32) }, next: i + w};
         }
 
         return multibyte_char_range_at(*self, i);
@@ -1980,7 +1980,7 @@ impl<'self> StrSlice<'self> for &'self str {
             if w > 2 { val = utf8_acc_cont_byte!(val, s[i + 2]); }
             if w > 3 { val = utf8_acc_cont_byte!(val, s[i + 3]); }
 
-            return CharRange {ch: val as char, next: i};
+            return CharRange {ch: unsafe { transmute(val as u32) }, next: i};
         }
 
         return multibyte_char_range_at_rev(*self, prev);
@@ -2236,7 +2236,6 @@ impl OwnedStr for ~str {
     /// Appends a character to the back of a string
     #[inline]
     fn push_char(&mut self, c: char) {
-        assert!((c as uint) < MAX_UNICODE); // FIXME: #7609: should be enforced on all `char`
         let cur_len = self.len();
         self.reserve_at_least(cur_len + 4); // may use up to 4 bytes
 
@@ -2433,8 +2432,6 @@ impl Default for @str {
 mod tests {
     use container::Container;
     use option::{None, Some};
-    use libc::c_char;
-    use libc;
     use ptr;
     use str::*;
     use vec;
@@ -3178,13 +3175,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!"".contains_char('a'));
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn test_map() {
-        #[fixed_stack_segment]; #[inline(never)];
-        assert_eq!(~"", "".map_chars(|c| unsafe {libc::toupper(c as c_char)} as char));
-        assert_eq!(~"YMCA", "ymca".map_chars(|c| unsafe {libc::toupper(c as c_char)} as char));
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn test_utf16() {
         let pairs =
@@ -3903,26 +3893,6 @@ mod bench {
         }
     }
 
-    #[bench]
-    fn map_chars_100_ascii(bh: &mut BenchHarness) {
-        let s = "HelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHello\
-                 HelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHello";
-        do bh.iter {
-            s.map_chars(|c| ((c as uint) + 1) as char);
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[bench]
-    fn map_chars_100_multibytes(bh: &mut BenchHarness) {
-        let s = "𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑\
-                 𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑\
-                 𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑\
-                 𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑𐌀𐌖𐌋𐌄𐌑";
-        do bh.iter {
-            s.map_chars(|c| ((c as uint) + 1) as char);
-        }
-    }
-
     #[bench]
     fn bench_with_capacity(bh: &mut BenchHarness) {
         do bh.iter {
diff --git a/src/libstd/str/ascii.rs b/src/libstd/str/ascii.rs
index 57730349e01..4ed969f628e 100644
--- a/src/libstd/str/ascii.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/str/ascii.rs
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl AsciiCast<Ascii> for char {
 
     #[inline]
     fn is_ascii(&self) -> bool {
-        *self - ('\x7F' & *self) == '\x00'
+        *self as u32 - ('\x7F' as u32 & *self as u32) == 0
     }
 }
 
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ static ASCII_UPPER_MAP: &'static [u8] = &[
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use str::from_char;
+    use char::from_u32;
 
     macro_rules! v2ascii (
         ( [$($e:expr),*]) => ( [$(Ascii{chr:$e}),*]);
@@ -469,9 +470,10 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut i = 0;
         while i <= 500 {
-            let c = i as char;
-            let upper = if 'a' <= c && c <= 'z' { c + 'A' - 'a' } else { c };
-            assert_eq!(from_char(i as char).to_ascii_upper(), from_char(upper))
+            let upper = if 'a' as u32 <= i && i <= 'z' as u32 { i + 'A' as u32 - 'a' as u32 }
+                        else { i };
+            assert_eq!(from_char(from_u32(i).unwrap()).to_ascii_upper(),
+                       from_char(from_u32(upper).unwrap()))
             i += 1;
         }
     }
@@ -484,9 +486,10 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut i = 0;
         while i <= 500 {
-            let c = i as char;
-            let lower = if 'A' <= c && c <= 'Z' { c + 'a' - 'A' } else { c };
-            assert_eq!(from_char(i as char).to_ascii_lower(), from_char(lower))
+            let lower = if 'A' as u32 <= i && i <= 'Z' as u32 { i + 'a' as u32 - 'A' as u32 }
+                        else { i };
+            assert_eq!(from_char(from_u32(i).unwrap()).to_ascii_lower(),
+                       from_char(from_u32(lower).unwrap()))
             i += 1;
         }
     }
@@ -503,9 +506,11 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut i = 0;
         while i <= 500 {
-            let c = i as char;
-            let lower = if 'A' <= c && c <= 'Z' { c + 'a' - 'A' } else { c };
-            assert!(from_char(i as char).eq_ignore_ascii_case(from_char(lower)));
+            let c = i;
+            let lower = if 'A' as u32 <= c && c <= 'Z' as u32 { c + 'a' as u32 - 'A' as u32 }
+                        else { c };
+            assert!(from_char(from_u32(i).unwrap()).
+                eq_ignore_ascii_case(from_char(from_u32(lower).unwrap())));
             i += 1;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/libstd/unicode.rs b/src/libstd/unicode.rs
index 6d763b58cd1..1b1e4be4ee1 100644
--- a/src/libstd/unicode.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/unicode.rs
@@ -56,14 +56,6 @@ pub mod general_category {
         bsearch_range_table(c, Co_table)
     }
 
-    static Cs_table : &'static [(char,char)] = &[
-        ('\ud800', '\udfff')
-    ];
-
-    pub fn Cs(c: char) -> bool {
-        bsearch_range_table(c, Cs_table)
-    }
-
     static Ll_table : &'static [(char,char)] = &[
         ('\x61', '\x7a'), ('\xb5', '\xb5'),
         ('\xdf', '\xf6'), ('\xf8', '\xff'),
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ast.rs b/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
index b411316d626..c7ebc344a9c 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ast.rs
@@ -632,6 +632,7 @@ pub type lit = Spanned<lit_>;
 #[deriving(Clone, Eq, Encodable, Decodable, IterBytes)]
 pub enum lit_ {
     lit_str(@str),
+    lit_char(u32),
     lit_int(i64, int_ty),
     lit_uint(u64, uint_ty),
     lit_int_unsuffixed(i64),
@@ -680,7 +681,6 @@ pub enum trait_method {
 #[deriving(Clone, Eq, Encodable, Decodable, IterBytes)]
 pub enum int_ty {
     ty_i,
-    ty_char,
     ty_i8,
     ty_i16,
     ty_i32,
@@ -737,6 +737,7 @@ pub enum prim_ty {
     ty_float(float_ty),
     ty_str,
     ty_bool,
+    ty_char
 }
 
 #[deriving(Clone, Eq, Encodable, Decodable, IterBytes)]
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs b/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
index 62b8fc687a6..5ee8537750e 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ast_util.rs
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ pub fn is_path(e: @Expr) -> bool {
 
 pub fn int_ty_to_str(t: int_ty) -> ~str {
     match t {
-      ty_char => ~"u8", // ???
       ty_i => ~"",
       ty_i8 => ~"i8",
       ty_i16 => ~"i16",
@@ -164,7 +163,7 @@ pub fn int_ty_max(t: int_ty) -> u64 {
     match t {
       ty_i8 => 0x80u64,
       ty_i16 => 0x8000u64,
-      ty_i | ty_char | ty_i32 => 0x80000000u64, // actually ni about ty_i
+      ty_i | ty_i32 => 0x80000000u64, // actually ni about ty_i
       ty_i64 => 0x8000000000000000u64
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/bytes.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/bytes.rs
index faf3e2653b9..cac311b0088 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/bytes.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/bytes.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ use ext::base::*;
 use ext::base;
 use ext::build::AstBuilder;
 
+use std::char;
+
 pub fn expand_syntax_ext(cx: @ExtCtxt, sp: Span, tts: &[ast::token_tree]) -> base::MacResult {
     // Gather all argument expressions
     let exprs = get_exprs_from_tts(cx, sp, tts);
@@ -53,8 +55,8 @@ pub fn expand_syntax_ext(cx: @ExtCtxt, sp: Span, tts: &[ast::token_tree]) -> bas
                 }
 
                 // char literal, push to vector expression
-                ast::lit_int(v, ast::ty_char) => {
-                    if (v as char).is_ascii() {
+                ast::lit_char(v) => {
+                    if char::from_u32(v).unwrap().is_ascii() {
                         bytes.push(cx.expr_u8(sp, v as u8));
                     } else {
                         cx.span_err(sp, "Non-ascii char literal in bytes!")
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/ifmt.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/ifmt.rs
index 213aeee66c7..b63b829a392 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/ifmt.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/ifmt.rs
@@ -495,8 +495,7 @@ impl Context {
 
                 // Translate the format
                 let fill = match arg.format.fill { Some(c) => c, None => ' ' };
-                let fill = self.ecx.expr_lit(sp, ast::lit_int(fill as i64,
-                                                              ast::ty_char));
+                let fill = self.ecx.expr_lit(sp, ast::lit_char(fill as u32));
                 let align = match arg.format.align {
                     parse::AlignLeft => {
                         self.ecx.path_global(sp, parsepath("AlignLeft"))
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/quote.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/quote.rs
index 8d43872e9c1..4e8b7467c5c 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/quote.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/quote.rs
@@ -387,10 +387,18 @@ fn mk_token(cx: @ExtCtxt, sp: Span, tok: &token::Token) -> @ast::Expr {
                                       ~[mk_binop(cx, sp, binop)]);
         }
 
+        LIT_CHAR(i) => {
+            let s_ity = ~"ty_char";
+            let e_ity = cx.expr_ident(sp, id_ext(s_ity));
+
+            let e_char = cx.expr_lit(sp, ast::lit_char(i));
+
+            return cx.expr_call_ident(sp, id_ext("LIT_CHAR"), ~[e_char, e_ity]);
+        }
+
         LIT_INT(i, ity) => {
             let s_ity = match ity {
                 ast::ty_i => ~"ty_i",
-                ast::ty_char => ~"ty_char",
                 ast::ty_i8 => ~"ty_i8",
                 ast::ty_i16 => ~"ty_i16",
                 ast::ty_i32 => ~"ty_i32",
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
index 26d66cfcaab..9dfea678b87 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use ext::tt::transcribe::{dup_tt_reader};
 use parse::token;
 use parse::token::{str_to_ident};
 
+use std::cast::transmute;
 use std::char;
 use std::either;
 use std::u64;
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ pub fn bump(rdr: &mut StringReader) {
     rdr.last_pos = rdr.pos;
     let current_byte_offset = byte_offset(rdr, rdr.pos).to_uint();
     if current_byte_offset < (rdr.src).len() {
-        assert!(rdr.curr != -1 as char);
+        assert!(rdr.curr != unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }); // FIXME: #8971: unsound
         let last_char = rdr.curr;
         let next = rdr.src.char_range_at(current_byte_offset);
         let byte_offset_diff = next.next - current_byte_offset;
@@ -201,17 +202,17 @@ pub fn bump(rdr: &mut StringReader) {
                 BytePos(current_byte_offset), byte_offset_diff);
         }
     } else {
-        rdr.curr = -1 as char;
+        rdr.curr = unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }; // FIXME: #8971: unsound
     }
 }
 pub fn is_eof(rdr: @mut StringReader) -> bool {
-    rdr.curr == -1 as char
+    rdr.curr == unsafe { transmute(-1u32) } // FIXME: #8971: unsound
 }
 pub fn nextch(rdr: @mut StringReader) -> char {
     let offset = byte_offset(rdr, rdr.pos).to_uint();
     if offset < (rdr.src).len() {
         return rdr.src.char_at(offset);
-    } else { return -1 as char; }
+    } else { return unsafe { transmute(-1u32) }; } // FIXME: #8971: unsound
 }
 
 fn dec_digit_val(c: char) -> int { return (c as int) - ('0' as int); }
@@ -532,7 +533,10 @@ fn scan_numeric_escape(rdr: @mut StringReader, n_hex_digits: uint) -> char {
         accum_int += hex_digit_val(n);
         i -= 1u;
     }
-    return accum_int as char;
+    match char::from_u32(accum_int as u32) {
+        Some(x) => x,
+        None => rdr.fatal(fmt!("illegal numeric character escape"))
+    }
 }
 
 fn ident_start(c: char) -> bool {
@@ -707,7 +711,7 @@ fn next_token_inner(rdr: @mut StringReader) -> token::Token {
             rdr.fatal(~"unterminated character constant");
         }
         bump(rdr); // advance curr past token
-        return token::LIT_INT(c2 as i64, ast::ty_char);
+        return token::LIT_CHAR(c2 as u32);
       }
       '"' => {
         let mut accum_str = ~"";
@@ -891,21 +895,21 @@ mod test {
         let env = setup(@"'a'");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        assert_eq!(tok,token::LIT_INT('a' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok,token::LIT_CHAR('a' as u32));
     }
 
     #[test] fn character_space() {
         let env = setup(@"' '");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_INT(' ' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_CHAR(' ' as u32));
     }
 
     #[test] fn character_escaped() {
         let env = setup(@"'\n'");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_INT('\n' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_CHAR('\n' as u32));
     }
 
     #[test] fn lifetime_name() {
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
index d40a71a80e4..51c5522ae2f 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ use ast::{foreign_item, foreign_item_static, foreign_item_fn, foreign_mod};
 use ast::{Ident, impure_fn, inherited, item, item_, item_static};
 use ast::{item_enum, item_fn, item_foreign_mod, item_impl};
 use ast::{item_mac, item_mod, item_struct, item_trait, item_ty, lit, lit_};
-use ast::{lit_bool, lit_float, lit_float_unsuffixed, lit_int};
+use ast::{lit_bool, lit_float, lit_float_unsuffixed, lit_int, lit_char};
 use ast::{lit_int_unsuffixed, lit_nil, lit_str, lit_uint, Local};
 use ast::{MutImmutable, MutMutable, mac_, mac_invoc_tt, matcher, match_nonterminal};
 use ast::{match_seq, match_tok, method, mt, BiMul, Mutability};
@@ -1334,6 +1334,7 @@ impl Parser {
     // matches token_lit = LIT_INT | ...
     pub fn lit_from_token(&self, tok: &token::Token) -> lit_ {
         match *tok {
+            token::LIT_CHAR(i) => lit_char(i),
             token::LIT_INT(i, it) => lit_int(i, it),
             token::LIT_UINT(u, ut) => lit_uint(u, ut),
             token::LIT_INT_UNSUFFIXED(i) => lit_int_unsuffixed(i),
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/token.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/token.rs
index 1092b2ddf57..591b4b10bd3 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/token.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/token.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use parse::token;
 use util::interner::StrInterner;
 use util::interner;
 
+use std::char;
 use std::cmp::Equiv;
 use std::local_data;
 use std::rand;
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ pub enum Token {
     DOLLAR,
 
     /* Literals */
+    LIT_CHAR(u32),
     LIT_INT(i64, ast::int_ty),
     LIT_UINT(u64, ast::uint_ty),
     LIT_INT_UNSUFFIXED(i64),
@@ -164,9 +166,9 @@ pub fn to_str(input: @ident_interner, t: &Token) -> ~str {
       DOLLAR => ~"$",
 
       /* Literals */
-      LIT_INT(c, ast::ty_char) => {
+      LIT_CHAR(c) => {
           let mut res = ~"'";
-          do (c as char).escape_default |c| {
+          do char::from_u32(c).unwrap().escape_default |c| {
               res.push_char(c);
           }
           res.push_char('\'');
@@ -236,6 +238,7 @@ pub fn can_begin_expr(t: &Token) -> bool {
       IDENT(_, _) => true,
       UNDERSCORE => true,
       TILDE => true,
+      LIT_CHAR(_) => true,
       LIT_INT(_, _) => true,
       LIT_UINT(_, _) => true,
       LIT_INT_UNSUFFIXED(_) => true,
@@ -276,6 +279,7 @@ pub fn flip_delimiter(t: &token::Token) -> token::Token {
 
 pub fn is_lit(t: &Token) -> bool {
     match *t {
+      LIT_CHAR(_) => true,
       LIT_INT(_, _) => true,
       LIT_UINT(_, _) => true,
       LIT_INT_UNSUFFIXED(_) => true,
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs b/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
index e1a0e1bf08d..32cf30fd3a0 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ use print::pp::{breaks, consistent, inconsistent, eof};
 use print::pp;
 use print::pprust;
 
+use std::char;
 use std::io;
 
 // The @ps is stored here to prevent recursive type.
@@ -2044,9 +2045,9 @@ pub fn print_literal(s: @ps, lit: &ast::lit) {
     }
     match lit.node {
       ast::lit_str(st) => print_string(s, st),
-      ast::lit_int(ch, ast::ty_char) => {
+      ast::lit_char(ch) => {
           let mut res = ~"'";
-          do (ch as char).escape_default |c| {
+          do char::from_u32(ch).unwrap().escape_default |c| {
               res.push_char(c);
           }
           res.push_char('\'');
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/binops.rs b/src/test/run-pass/binops.rs
index eb0f04b8b7d..333794e98bf 100644
--- a/src/test/run-pass/binops.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/binops.rs
@@ -42,22 +42,6 @@ fn test_bool() {
     assert_eq!(true ^ true, false);
 }
 
-fn test_char() {
-    let ch10 = 10 as char;
-    let ch4 = 4 as char;
-    let ch2 = 2 as char;
-    assert_eq!(ch10 + ch4, 14 as char);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 - ch4, 6 as char);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 * ch4, 40 as char);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 / ch4, ch2);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 % ch4, ch2);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 >> ch2, ch2);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 << ch4, 160 as char);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 | ch4, 14 as char);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 & ch2, ch2);
-    assert_eq!(ch10 ^ ch2, 8 as char);
-}
-
 fn test_box() {
     assert_eq!(@10, @10);
 }
@@ -111,7 +95,6 @@ fn test_class() {
 pub fn main() {
     test_nil();
     test_bool();
-    test_char();
     test_box();
     test_ptr();
     test_class();
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/cast.rs b/src/test/run-pass/cast.rs
index 10407420a43..00d3155cd98 100644
--- a/src/test/run-pass/cast.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/cast.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@
 // option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 // except according to those terms.
 
-
-
-
 // -*- rust -*-
 pub fn main() {
     let i: int = 'Q' as int;
@@ -20,7 +17,7 @@ pub fn main() {
     assert_eq!(u, 'Q' as u32);
     assert_eq!(i as u8, 'Q' as u8);
     assert_eq!(i as u8 as i8, 'Q' as u8 as i8);
-    assert_eq!(0x51 as char, 'Q');
+    assert_eq!(0x51u8 as char, 'Q');
     assert_eq!(true, 1 as bool);
     assert_eq!(0 as u32, false as u32);
 }
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/shift.rs b/src/test/run-pass/shift.rs
index 7b676f05c90..945bb885ad1 100644
--- a/src/test/run-pass/shift.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/shift.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn main() {
 }
 
 fn test_misc() {
-    assert_eq!(1 << 1i8 << 1u8 << 1i16 << 1 as char << 1u64, 32);
+    assert_eq!(1 << 1i8 << 1u8 << 1i16 << 1u8 << 1u64, 32);
 }
 
 fn test_expr() {
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/utf8_chars.rs b/src/test/run-pass/utf8_chars.rs
index 881606d673c..db258d48f9f 100644
--- a/src/test/run-pass/utf8_chars.rs
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/utf8_chars.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use std::str;
 
 pub fn main() {
     // Chars of 1, 2, 3, and 4 bytes
-    let chs: ~[char] = ~['e', 'é', '€', 0x10000 as char];
+    let chs: ~[char] = ~['e', 'é', '€', '\U00010000'];
     let s: ~str = str::from_chars(chs);
     let schs: ~[char] = s.iter().collect();