Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 写 (xiě) originally depicted a hand transferring something from one place to another beneath a roof, representing the concept of copying or transcribing. In ancient China, it meant 'to copy' or 'to depict.' Over time, it evolved to its current simplified form while retaining the core meaning of reproduction or representation, as seen in words like 写す (utsusu - to copy) and 写真 (shashin - photograph). Arrived in Japan: The character 写 was likely introduced to Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader adoption of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange during the Asuka period when Japan systematically imported Chinese characters and culture.