Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 葵 originally depicted a type of plant - the sunflower or hollyhock - in ancient China. Its composition combines the grass radical (艹) indicating vegetation with 癸, which may have served as a phonetic component. Over centuries, 葵 evolved from representing sun-tracking flowers to symbolizing loyalty and devotion in Chinese culture, as sunflowers faithfully follow the sun. The character maintained its core botanical meaning while accumulating these cultural associations. Arrived in Japan: The character 葵 arrived in Japan during the Asuka period (6th-7th centuries) as part of the broader introduction of Chinese writing and culture. It became particularly significant during the Heian period, where it was adopted as the mon (crest) of the Tokugawa shogunate, making the 'Aoi' (Japanese reading) symbol famous throughout Japan.