Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 達 evolved from ancient forms depicting movement and arrival. In oracle bone script, it often showed a person walking on a road (辵/辶) combined with elements suggesting reaching a destination. The Liushutong form L26464 shows an early seal script variant with the '辵' radical clearly visible, representing the concept of 'arriving at' or 'reaching.' Over time, the character developed to mean 'to reach, arrive, attain' and extended to signify 'thorough, penetrating' and 'to express.' In modern usage, it also carries meanings of accomplishment and communication, as seen in words like 発達 (development) and 伝達 (transmission). Arrived in Japan: The character 達 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system through Buddhist texts, Confucian classics, and official documents brought by Korean scholars and Chinese immigrants. It became established in the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th-8th centuries) when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters for official records and literary works.