Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 羊 (yáng) depicts a stylized frontal view of a sheep's head with prominent curved horns. In ancient oracle bone script, it clearly showed the animal's head with two horns. Over time, it evolved through bronze script to the modern standardized form. In Chinese culture, 羊 symbolizes auspiciousness and goodness, as seen in characters like 美 (beautiful) which combines 羊 and 大, and 祥 (auspicious) which includes the 羊 component. The character represents not just the animal itself but carries positive connotations of peace and prosperity. Arrived in Japan: The character 羊 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system and culture through Korean peninsula intermediaries and direct contacts with China. It was adopted into Japanese as 'hitsuji' for sheep and incorporated into the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan was systematically importing Chinese cultural and administrative systems.