Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 始 evolved from ancient forms depicting a woman (女) and a fetus (台/厶), representing the beginning of life. In oracle bone script, it showed a pregnant woman, symbolizing creation and origin. During the bronze script period, the components became more standardized as 女 (woman) and 厶 (fetus). By the small seal script period, it transformed into the modern 始 structure. The character carries the fundamental meaning of 'beginning,' 'start,' or 'commencement,' reflecting how new life represents the ultimate beginning. This evolution from concrete biological imagery to abstract philosophical concept demonstrates how Chinese characters developed from pictorial representations to symbolic meaning. Arrived in Japan: The character 始 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems. It was incorporated into the Japanese language through the importation of Chinese classical texts and Buddhist scriptures during the Asuka and Nara periods. The character became part of the Japanese writing system and is read as 'hajimeru' (to begin) or 'hajime' (beginning) in Japanese, maintaining the same fundamental meaning as in Chinese.