Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 鹿 depicts a deer, with the earliest oracle bone inscriptions showing a side view of the animal with prominent antlers, a body, legs, and a tail. Over time, the character evolved through bronze inscriptions and seal script into its modern form, simplifying the antlers into the '广'-like component at the top while retaining the essence of the deer's form. In ancient China, deer were not only hunted for food but also held cultural significance as symbols of longevity and imperial power, as evidenced by the legendary 'Deer Terrace' built by King Zhou of Shang. Arrived in Japan: The character 鹿 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) through cultural exchange with China, or more systematically during the Asuka period (538-710 CE) when Japan adopted Chinese writing systems. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Man'yōshū (8th century) and is used in place names and surnames, reflecting its integration into Japanese culture.