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The character 誠 (chéng/shì) evolved from ancient Chinese script to represent 'sincerity, truth, honesty'. It is composed of two elements: 言 (speech/language) and 成 (to complete/accomplish). The original meaning conveyed the concept of 'fulfilling one's words' or 'making words complete/truthful'. In Liushutong, the variant L11076 shows an early form where the components are clearly recognizable, demonstrating the character's consistent meaning throughout its evolution - that genuine speech leads to accomplished results, embodying the Confucian virtue of integrity and trustworthiness. Arrived in Japan: The character 誠 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system and Confucian classics, possibly through Korean scholars or direct Chinese cultural missions. It became established in Japanese as 'makoto' (sincerity, truth) during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters and cultural elements.