Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 宛 (wǎn/yuān) originated in ancient China with multiple meanings. Its earliest forms in oracle bone and bronze scripts depicted a person under a roof, suggesting meanings of 'bending' or 'curving.' Over time, it evolved to convey concepts of 'as if,' 'resembling,' and 'exactly like.' The modern kanji 宛 maintains these meanings while also being used in Japanese names and addresses. The character's evolution shows how a simple pictorial representation transformed into an abstract concept character used in both Chinese and Japanese writing systems. Arrived in Japan: The character 宛 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange. It became part of the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters (kanji) for official documents and literary works.