Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 姉 (elder sister) evolved from ancient pictographs depicting a woman. In oracle bone script, it showed a kneeling female figure. By the Liushutong period, the character had stabilized with the 女 (woman) radical combined with 市, which may have represented phonetic elements or symbolic meaning. The modern form 姉 maintains the woman radical while simplifying the right component. Throughout Chinese history, this character has consistently represented the respectful term for one's elder sister, reflecting the importance of family hierarchy in Confucian society. Arrived in Japan: The character 姉 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China and Korea, becoming part of the Japanese writing system when kanji were adopted. It was formally incorporated into the Japanese language during the systematic introduction of Chinese characters that began around the 5th century CE.