Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 先 originally depicted a foot (止) above a person (人), representing the concept of 'going ahead' or 'before.' In ancient oracle bone script, it showed a foot stepping forward from a person's body. Over time, the components evolved into the modern form 先, maintaining the core meaning of 'first,' 'ahead,' 'previous,' or 'ancestor.' The character embodies the fundamental human experience of sequence and precedence. Arrived in Japan: The character 先 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems (kanji) through cultural exchange with Korea and China. It was systematically adopted during the Asuka and Nara periods as part of Japan's formal adoption of Chinese characters for writing and administrative purposes.