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The character 弟 originally depicted a sequence of cords or threads wrapped around a pole or standard, representing order and sequence. In ancient China, it evolved to mean 'younger brother' - someone who comes after in the birth order. The character's components suggest the idea of succession and what follows. Over time, it also acquired meanings related to humility (as in referring to oneself) and fraternal duty. In Confucian ethics, it became part of the concept of 'fraternal respect' (悌), one of the fundamental virtues in traditional Chinese morality. Arrived in Japan: The character 弟 was likely introduced to Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader adoption of Chinese writing system and Confucian classics. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century), where it was used both for its meaning 'younger brother' and as part of the Japanese writing system, often in compound words and names.