Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 配 originally depicted a person kneeling beside a wine vessel (酉), representing the act of distributing wine during rituals. In ancient China, this ceremonial distribution symbolized allocation and assignment. Over time, the character evolved to its modern form 配, combining 酉 (alcohol vessel) with 己 (originally a kneeling figure). Its meaning expanded from ritual wine distribution to broader concepts of distribution, matching, partnership, and deployment - reflecting how ceremonial practices influenced social organization. Arrived in Japan: The character 配 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, retaining its meanings of distribution, matching, and deployment, and is used in words like 分配 (distribution) and 配合 (combination).