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The character 煎 is composed of 灬 (fire) below 前 (before/front), creating the meaning 'to fry' or 'to simmer.' In ancient China, it originally depicted cooking food with fire, evolving from the concept of applying heat to prepare meals. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the process of boiling down herbal medicine or roasting tea leaves, reflecting its deep connection to Chinese culinary and medicinal traditions. Arrived in Japan: 煎 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) along with other Chinese characters, likely through cultural exchange with Korean peninsula. It became firmly established in Japanese writing during the systematic adoption of Chinese characters in the 5th-6th centuries, particularly associated with tea culture and cooking methods.