Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 修 originates from ancient Chinese pictographs depicting a person holding a brush or tool, symbolizing the act of adorning, repairing, or cultivating. Its components combine '彡' (decorative strokes) with '攸' (a phonetic element), reflecting meanings of refinement, study, and moral cultivation. Over time, it evolved from bronze script forms to the standardized modern kanji, emphasizing self-improvement and discipline. Arrived in Japan: The character likely arrived in Japan during the 5th to 6th centuries CE, alongside the introduction of Chinese writing systems through Buddhist texts and Confucian classics, as part of the broader cultural exchange with the Korean peninsula and China.