Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 本 originated as a pictograph showing a tree (木) with a mark at its base, indicating the 'root' or 'origin.' In ancient oracle bone script, it literally depicted roots extending from a tree trunk. Over time, it evolved through bronze script and seal script forms before standardizing into its modern form. The character's fundamental meaning expanded from 'root' to encompass 'origin,' 'basis,' 'foundation,' and 'source,' reflecting how roots are fundamental to a tree's existence. This character also came to mean 'book' because books were considered fundamental sources of knowledge. Arrived in Japan: The character 本 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through cultural exchange with Korea and China. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and appears in the earliest Japanese texts, including the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century).