Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 息 depicts a combination of 自 (nose) and 心 (heart), representing breath and life force. Originally showing breath flowing from the nose and heart, it evolved to mean 'breath,' 'rest,' and 'cease.' In ancient China, it symbolized the vital connection between breathing and living, later extending to meanings like 'descendants' (as in 子息) and 'interest' (as in 利息), reflecting how life and value grow. Arrived in Japan: The character 息 arrived in Japan during the early waves of Chinese character importation, likely between the 5th and 7th centuries CE, as part of the broader cultural exchange that brought Chinese writing and Buddhism to Japan. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system and appears in early Japanese texts such as the Manyoshu.