Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 秋 (autumn) has an interesting evolution. In its earliest oracle bone script forms, it depicted a cricket or grasshopper insect (龟) next to a fire (火), representing the autumn harvest season when insects were abundant and crops were burned after harvesting. Over time, the character simplified to the modern form with 禾 (grain) and 火 (fire), symbolizing the autumn harvest when grains ripen and the fiery colors of fall foliage. The character carries meanings of harvest, maturity, and the passage of time. Arrived in Japan: The character 秋 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, introduced along with other Chinese characters through cultural exchange with Korea and China. It was formally systematized in Japan during the Asuka period (538-710 CE) as part of the broader introduction of Chinese writing and culture.