Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 奔 originally depicted a person (大) with three outstretched arms or legs, suggesting someone running vigorously. This ancient form emphasized the motion and urgency of running. Over time, it evolved into the modern form 奔, which combines 大 (person) with 卉 (plants/vegetation), though some interpretations see the bottom component as stylized feet. The core meaning has remained 'to run quickly' or 'to rush,' extending to concepts of haste, fleeing, and energetic movement. Arrived in Japan: The character 奔 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, when the Japanese writing system was developed through contact with China and Korean scholars. It was incorporated into the Japanese kanji system along with many other Chinese characters during this period of cultural exchange.