Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 湿 (wet, moist) evolved from ancient pictographs representing water and humidity. In its earliest forms found in Liushutong, the character depicted water streams or moisture patterns. The modern form combines the water radical (氵) with the component 显 (reveal), suggesting how moisture reveals itself through dampness. Throughout Chinese history, this character has consistently represented concepts of wetness, humidity, and moisture, appearing in oracle bone inscriptions and bronze script before standardizing into its current form during the clerical script transformation. Arrived in Japan: The character 湿 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, primarily through the introduction of Chinese writing systems via Korean peninsula. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th-8th centuries) as part of the broader cultural exchange that brought Chinese characters (kanji) to Japan. The character maintains the same meaning in Japanese as in Chinese, read as 'shitsu' in on'yomi readings.