Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 掌 originally depicted a hand (手) beneath a roof or cover (宀), evolving to represent the palm of the hand. In Liushutong, L17448 shows an early form emphasizing the hand's curved shape and the concept of 'holding' or 'controlling.' Over time, it came to mean 'palm,' 'to control,' or 'to manage,' as seen in words like 掌握 (to grasp/master) and 掌舵 (to steer a boat). Its evolution reflects how the hand's physical function extended metaphorically to authority and skill. Arrived in Japan: The character likely arrived in Japan during the early waves of Chinese character adoption, around the 5th to 6th centuries CE, through Buddhist texts and classical Chinese works imported by scholars and monks.