Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 母 (mother) evolved from a pictograph of a kneeling woman with prominent breasts, emphasizing her role as a nurturer. In oracle bone script, it depicted a woman with two dots representing breasts. By the bronze script era, the form became more stylized, with the breasts evolving into two dots and the body into crossed lines. The character retains the core meaning of 'mother' throughout Chinese history, representing the fundamental familial role and the concept of origin and care. Arrived in Japan: The character 母 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, primarily via Buddhist texts and diplomatic missions during the Kofun and Asuka periods.