Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 朝 originally depicted the moon (月) fading between plants or trees (屮) as the sun (日) rises over the horizon, representing the concept of 'morning.' The earliest forms showed the moon setting while the sun appeared through vegetation. Over time, the character evolved to its current form with 龺 (a variant combining sun and plants) on the left and 月 (moon) on the right. The meaning expanded from 'morning' to include 'court audience' (as officials gathered in the morning) and 'dynasty' (the ruling court). Arrived in Japan: The character 朝 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, likely through the introduction of Chinese writing systems via Korean peninsula. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century), where it was used both for its meaning and in the name 'Asuka' (飛鳥朝), referring to the Asuka period.