Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 逸 originally depicted a rabbit (兔) being chased by a fast-moving foot (辵/辶), representing the concept of 'escaping' or 'fleeing.' Over time, its meaning expanded to include 'leisure' (from being free from pursuit) and 'excellence' (standing out from the ordinary). The Liushutong form L25920 shows an early variant where the rabbit component is clearly recognizable, evolving through clerical and standard script into the modern 逸 character. Arrived in Japan: The character 逸 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and official missions to the Tang court. It appears in early Japanese documents like the Manyoshu (8th century) and was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character with similar meanings of 'escape,' 'excel,' and 'leisure.'