Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 扶 evolved from ancient pictographs showing one hand supporting another person's arm, representing the meaning 'to support,' 'to assist,' or 'to help.' In Liushutong, L03637 displays this supportive hand-and-arm structure that clearly developed into the modern form 扶, which consists of the hand radical (扌) on the left and 夫 (which provides phonetic value) on the right. Throughout Chinese history, this character has maintained its core meaning of providing physical support or assistance, appearing in classical texts and compound words like 扶助 (to aid) and 扶持 (to support). Arrived in Japan: The character 扶 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system through Buddhist texts, Confucian classics, and cultural exchange. It was formally incorporated into the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters (kanji) for writing Japanese.