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The character 盗 (dào) meaning 'to steal' or 'thief' has an interesting evolution. In ancient oracle bone script, it originally depicted a person (人) covetously watching over a vessel (皿) containing valuable objects, representing the desire to take what belongs to others. The character combines 㳄 (xián, meaning 'saliva' or 'covetousness') above 皿 (mǐn, meaning 'vessel' or 'dish'), creating the concept of 'coveting someone else's possessions' which leads to stealing. Over time, the components simplified into the modern form 盗, but still retains the essence of desire over valuable objects. Arrived in Japan: The character 盗 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China, likely via the Korean peninsula. It was formally incorporated into the Japanese writing system during the systematic adoption of Chinese characters that began in the 5th century CE, particularly through Buddhist texts and legal documents.