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The character 岳 (yuè) originally depicted a mountain with multiple peaks, representing a 'lofty mountain' or 'mountain peak.' In ancient forms, it often showed a central mountain shape with additional elements emphasizing height and majesty. Over time, the character simplified to its current form while retaining the core meaning of a grand, towering mountain. In Chinese culture, 岳 is particularly significant as it appears in the names of sacred mountains like the Five Great Mountains (五岳) that were central to imperial worship and Daoist practice. Arrived in Japan: The character 岳 arrived in Japan during the early cultural exchanges with China, likely between the 5th and 7th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing (kanji). It appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyōshū (8th century) and was used in place names and personal names. In Japanese, it's read as 'take' or 'gaku' and maintains the meaning of 'peak' or 'mountain,' appearing in words like 山岳 (sangaku - mountains) and names like 富士岳 (Fujitake - Fuji peak).