Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 厚 (thick, generous) evolved from ancient pictographs showing a cliff (厂) with a mound or heavy object at its base, symbolizing thickness and substance. In oracle bone script, it depicted a container filled to overflowing, representing abundance. Over time, it standardized into its current form while retaining the meaning of physical thickness that expanded to include metaphorical richness and generosity of spirit. Arrived in Japan: The character 厚 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE-300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China and Korea, likely as part of the introduction of Chinese writing systems. It was formally adopted into Japanese writing when kanji became systematically used in Japan during the 5th century CE.