Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 首 (shǒu) originally depicted a human head with prominent hair or a headdress. In oracle bone script, it clearly showed a face with eyes and hair above. The character evolved through bronze script and seal script, gradually simplifying while maintaining the head motif. 首 primarily means 'head' or 'chief,' but also extends to 'beginning' or 'first.' Interestingly, it's related to 頁 (which also means head) and 道 (the head leading the way). In modern usage, 首 appears in words like 首都 (capital city), 首相 (prime minister), and 首脳 (leader). Arrived in Japan: The character 首 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, primarily through the introduction of Chinese writing systems via Korean peninsula. It was adopted into Japanese as 'kubi' (neck/head) and 'shu' (chief/head) readings, appearing in early Japanese texts like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century).