Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 越 originally depicted a person with a battle-axe (戉) crossing over or moving beyond boundaries, combining the radical for 'walking' (走) with the phonetic element 戉. In ancient times, it referred to the Yue people of southern China who were known for their martial prowess. Over time, the character evolved to primarily mean 'to cross over,' 'to exceed,' or 'to surpass,' reflecting the concept of going beyond limits or boundaries. The modern kanji 越 maintains this core meaning while simplifying the original complex structure. Arrived in Japan: The character 越 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with other Chinese characters through cultural exchange with Korea and China, particularly during the period when Buddhism and Chinese writing systems were systematically introduced to the Japanese archipelago.