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The character 侵 (qīn) originally depicted a hand holding a broom sweeping forward, symbolizing 'advancing gradually' or 'encroaching.' In its earliest oracle bone script forms, it combined the radical for 'person' (人/亻) with elements representing a cowry scraper or broom, illustrating the concept of progressive invasion or erosion. Through bronze script and small seal script, the character evolved into its modern form, retaining the 'person' radical (亻) on the left and a component derived from 'brush/sweep' (帚) on the right. Its core meaning has consistently revolved around 'invading,' 'encroaching,' or 'infringing,' reflecting a slow, persistent advance into another's territory or rights. Arrived in Japan: The character 侵, along with many other Chinese characters, was likely introduced to Japan during the 5th to 6th centuries CE, a period when written Chinese culture and Buddhism were systematically imported via Korean Peninsula contacts. It became part of the Japanese kanji system, retaining its meaning of 'invade' or 'encroach' (e.g., 侵略 - shinryaku, meaning 'aggression' or 'invasion').