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The character 尾 originally depicted a person with a tail or animal tail, combining the 'body' radical (尸) with the 'hair' or 'fur' element (毛). In ancient China, it represented the tail of an animal. Over time, the character evolved from its pictorial origins to the more abstract modern form, but retained its core meaning of 'tail.' It extended to mean 'end,' 'rear,' or 'remaining part' of something. The character appears in oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty, showing its ancient origins in Chinese writing. Arrived in Japan: The character 尾 arrived in Japan during the 5th to 6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through cultural exchange with China and Korea. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyoshu (8th century), though likely entered earlier through Buddhist scriptures and official documents.