Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 位 (wèi) is composed of 人 (person) and 立 (to stand). Its original meaning in ancient China was 'position' or 'rank,' depicting a person standing in their proper place in a ceremonial or hierarchical context. Over time, it evolved to also mean 'seat,' 'status,' and, in Japanese, the counter for people. The Liushutong form L21785 shows an early seal script variant that clearly preserves the 'person standing' composition, making it the closest to the modern 位. Arrived in Japan: The character 位, along with the Chinese writing system, was introduced to Japan via the Korean peninsula during the early 5th century AD, as part of the broader cultural transmission that included Buddhism and classical Chinese texts.