Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 疾 originated from oracle bone script depicting a person (大) struck by an arrow (矢), representing sudden illness or rapid movement. In bronze script, the components became more standardized with 疒 (sickness radical) and 矢 (arrow). The Liushutong version shows an intermediate form where the sickness radical and arrow are clearly recognizable but arranged differently than modern 疾. The character carries dual meanings of 'disease/illness' and 'swift/rapid', reflecting the sudden onset of sickness or the speed of an arrow's flight. Arrived in Japan: The character 疾 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It appears in early Japanese documents like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century), used both for its medical meaning and in compounds denoting speed or intensity.