Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 兄 (xiōng) originally depicted a person kneeling with an open mouth, representing an elder brother speaking or giving instructions to younger siblings. In ancient oracle bone script, it showed a man (儿) with a mouth (口) above, symbolizing authority and seniority. Over time, the composition simplified but maintained the core elements - the mouth above the person - conveying the meaning of 'elder brother' or 'senior male relative'. The character embodies Confucian values of respect for elders and family hierarchy. Arrived in Japan: The character 兄 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Korean scholars and Buddhist texts. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and appears in the earliest Japanese texts including the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century), where it was read as 'ani' for elder brother and 'ke' for the Sino-Japanese reading.