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The character 株 originally depicted a tree stump with exposed roots, representing the base or trunk of a tree. Over time, its meaning expanded metaphorically to represent shares or stocks in business (as in 株式 - kabushiki, meaning corporation stock), drawing from the concept of a foundational base that supports growth and value. In ancient Chinese, it also came to mean 'stake' or 'share' in various contexts. Arrived in Japan: The character 株 likely arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) along with other Chinese characters, but became more widely used during the Nara period (710-794) when Japan systematically adopted Chinese writing. Its commercial meaning related to shares/stocks developed during the Meiji era (1868-1912) with Japan's modernization of economic systems.