Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 使 has evolved from ancient forms depicting a person holding a ritual staff or tally, combining the radical 人 (person) with 吏 (official). In Liushutong, L13532 shows a classical variant where the right component resembles an official seal or authority symbol. The character fundamentally means 'to use,' 'to employ,' or 'to send,' reflecting the concept of a person (人) being directed or employing something for a purpose. Over time, it developed meanings related to 'envoy,' 'messenger,' and 'to cause,' as in directing action. The modern form 使 maintains this core idea of agency and employment. Arrived in Japan: The character 使 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems through Buddhist texts, official missions, and cultural exchange between China and Japan. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji adopted during the Asuka and Nara periods.