Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 侍 evolved from ancient pictographs showing a person standing next to a symbolic representation of authority or temple. In Liushutong, L19119 shows an early form with 人 (person) combined with 寺 (temple/government office), representing someone serving in an official capacity. Over time, it came to mean 'to serve,' 'attendant,' or 'samurai' - someone who serves a lord. The modern kanji retains the 人 radical on the left and 寺 on the right, perfectly preserving the original concept of a person in service. Arrived in Japan: The character 侍 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems. It became particularly significant during the Heian period (794-1185) when the samurai class emerged, and the term 侍 (samurai) became central to Japanese military culture and social structure.