Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 冒 originally depicted a hat (冃) covering the eyes (目), representing the concept of 'covering' or 'to risk.' In ancient oracle bone script, it showed a head covering extending over the eyes, evolving through bronze script where the hat and eyes became more stylized. By the small seal script period, the components were standardized into the modern form. The character carries dual meanings: literally 'to cover' (as in 帽子 - hat) and figuratively 'to risk' (as in 冒險 - adventure), where one 'covers' themselves with danger. Arrived in Japan: The character 冒 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange with Korean peninsula. It appears in early Japanese documents like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century), indicating it was part of the initial wave of kanji adoption during the Asuka and Nara periods.