Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 改 (gǎi) means 'to change' or 'to reform.' Its ancient form in Liushutong shows the character composed of two elements: 己 (jǐ), representing oneself, and 攵 (the 'strike' radical), depicting a hand holding a stick. The original meaning was to strike or beat oneself as a form of self-correction, which evolved into the broader concept of reform, change, and improvement. This reflects the Confucian ideal of self-cultivation through continuous self-examination and correction. Arrived in Japan: The character 改 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China, likely brought via Korean peninsula. It was systematically introduced along with other Chinese characters during the 5th-6th centuries when Japanese scholars began studying Chinese texts. The character is read in Japanese as 'kai' or 'arata(meru)' and appears in many compound words related to reform and change.