Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 定 (dìng) evolved from ancient pictographs showing stability and settlement. Its earliest forms in oracle bone script depicted a person inside a house or enclosure, representing the idea of 'settling down' or 'being at rest.' The modern form combines 宀 (roof) over 正 (correct/straight), conveying meanings of stability, decision, fixation, and calmness. Throughout Chinese history, 定 has maintained core meanings related to establishing order, making decisions, and achieving tranquility - from settling disputes to determining outcomes. Arrived in Japan: The character 定 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through cultural exchange with China and Korea. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and appears in early Japanese texts like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (759 CE), where it was used both for its meaning and in the development of Japanese readings (tei, jō, sadamaru).