Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 三 (sān), meaning 'three,' is one of the simplest and most ancient Chinese numerals. Its earliest forms, found on oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE), were three horizontal lines of equal length. This is a prime example of the 'indicative' (指事, zhǐshì) principle in the Liushutong, where the meaning is directly indicated by the symbol's form—in this case, three strokes representing the number three. Over millennia, its shape remained remarkably stable, solidifying into the modern kanji '三.' Its fundamental meaning of 'three' has also remained constant, symbolizing completeness and stability in Chinese culture, as seen in concepts like 'Heaven, Earth, and Humanity' (三才). Arrived in Japan: The character 三, along with the Chinese writing system, was introduced to Japan around the 5th century CE, likely via Korean Peninsula. It is part of the foundational set of Chinese characters (kanji) adopted into the Japanese language.