Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 参 (cān/shēn) evolved from ancient forms depicting three stars or three people, originally meaning 'three' or 'triple.' In oracle bone script, it often represented the three stars of Orion's Belt. Over time, it developed meanings related to 'participate' (参加), 'reference' (参考), and 'ginseng' (人参), with the three strokes at the top consistently representing its triple nature. The Liushutong form shows an intermediate stage between ancient bronze script and modern regular script. Arrived in Japan: The character arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, introduced alongside Chinese writing systems through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange during the Yamato period. It became incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, retaining similar meanings and pronunciations (san, shin, jin).