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The character 弱 originally depicted two bending feathers or plumes (弓-shaped elements), suggesting something pliable, delicate, or lacking strength. In its earliest forms found in Liushutong, it appeared as two curved lines side by side, sometimes with small marks indicating flexibility. Over time, these evolved into the modern form with two 'bows' (弓) on each side, emphasizing the concept of bending easily rather than being rigid and strong. The character has consistently meant 'weak,' 'feeble,' or 'young' throughout Chinese history, representing both physical weakness and metaphorical fragility. Arrived in Japan: The character 弱 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with other Chinese characters through the Korean peninsula, as part of the broader introduction of Chinese writing and culture. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyoshu (8th century) and was incorporated into the Japanese writing system, retaining its meaning of weakness or inferiority.