Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 展 evolved from ancient forms depicting a person with a winding, twisting body, conveying the original meaning of 'to turn' or 'to roll.' Over time, its meaning expanded to include 'to unfold,' 'to display,' and 'to extend.' The modern form 展 combines the element 尸 (which can represent a person or a building) with a lower part that suggests movement or spreading out, perfectly capturing the idea of something being opened up and presented for view. Arrived in Japan: The character 展, along with the broader Chinese writing system, is believed to have arrived in Japan around the 5th century AD, primarily through the importation of Chinese classics like the Confucian texts and the Thousand Character Classic.