Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 珠 evolved from ancient pictographs depicting beads or pearls. In Liushutong, L30660 shows a more direct ancestral form to modern 珠, combining the radical 玉 (jade, precious stone) with 朱 (vermilion, representing both sound and the reddish hue of some precious stones). Originally meaning 'pearl' or 'precious bead,' it expanded to signify anything precious, beautiful, or spherical like a pearl. The character's structure reflects the Chinese cultural reverence for jade and precious stones. Arrived in Japan: The character 珠 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist scriptures and cultural exchange during the Asuka period when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters and culture.