Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 草 (cǎo) originally depicted two plants sprouting from the ground, representing grass or vegetation. In ancient oracle bone script, it showed multiple blades of grass. Over time, it evolved through bronze script and seal script forms before standardizing into its current form. The character carries meanings of grass, plants, rough drafts, and cursive script. In Liushutong, L34911 shows an early variant with clearer plant imagery that more directly evolved into the modern 草 character. Arrived in Japan: The character 草 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) through cultural exchange with China, but became systematically established during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th-8th centuries CE) when Japan adopted Chinese writing systems and Buddhist texts, which frequently referenced plants and nature.