Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 柳 (liǔ) meaning 'willow tree' has an interesting evolution. In ancient oracle bone script, it was composed of 木 (tree) and 卯 (mǎo, the fourth earthly branch), where 卯 may have represented the pronunciation. Over time, the structure stabilized into the modern form with 木 on the left and 卯 on the right. The willow tree in Chinese culture symbolizes flexibility, resilience, and elegance, as willow branches bend without breaking in the wind. It appears frequently in classical poetry and art, often representing feminine beauty and the passing of time. Arrived in Japan: The character 柳 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China and Korea, likely as part of the introduction of Chinese writing systems. It became established in the Japanese language as 'yanagi' (willow) and was incorporated into the Manyōgana system used in the Man'yōshū poetry anthology (8th century).