Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 乾 originally depicted plants reaching upward toward the sun, symbolizing 'heaven' and 'dryness.' In ancient Chinese philosophy, it represents the Qian hexagram in the I Ching (Book of Changes), embodying the creative principle of heaven, strength, and masculinity. Over time, its form evolved from a pictographic representation to the more stylized modern kanji, while maintaining its core meanings of 'dry,' 'heavenly,' and 'male principle.' The character consists of the 'ten thousand' radical (龺) combined with other elements suggesting upward movement and celestial energy. Arrived in Japan: The character 乾 was likely introduced to Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader adoption of Chinese writing systems (kanji) through cultural exchange with Korea and China. It appears in early Japanese texts such as the Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE), and was well-established in Japanese writing by the Heian period (794-1185 CE).