Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 渡 evolved from ancient pictographs showing a person crossing water. In Liushutong, L20679 shows an early form with 水 (water) and 度 (measure/cross), representing the action of crossing a river or passing over water. Over time, it standardized to its modern form 渡, combining the water radical 氵with 度, maintaining its core meaning of 'to cross' or 'to ferry across'. The character embodies both literal crossing of rivers and metaphorical transitions or passages. Arrived in Japan: The character 渡 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and Korean scholars. It became established in Japanese as the kanji 渡 (to/wataru) during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters.