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The character 情 evolved from ancient pictographs representing the heart and emotions. In Liushutong classification, it belongs to the 'phonetic compound' category, combining the radical 心 (heart) with the phonetic component 青 (blue/green). Originally depicting the blue-green color of vegetation, 青 came to represent youth and vitality. When combined with 心, it created the meaning 'emotions that spring from the heart' or 'genuine feelings.' Over centuries, 情 developed to encompass meanings of emotion, sentiment, affection, and circumstance - all connected to the human heart's responses to the world. Arrived in Japan: The character 情 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, retaining its core meaning related to emotions and feelings, and appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyoshu (8th century).