Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 注 evolved from ancient pictographs representing water pouring or flowing. In Liushutong, L20549 shows an early form with 水 (water) component combined with 主 (master/main), creating the meaning 'to pour' or 'to concentrate.' Over time, it developed additional meanings including 'to annotate' (as in pouring knowledge into text), 'to focus,' and 'to register.' The modern form 注 maintains this water-radical structure, preserving its connection to liquid flow while expanding to abstract concepts of attention and commentary. Arrived in Japan: The character 注 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It became integrated into the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji imported during the Yamato period, appearing in early Japanese documents like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Manyoshu (8th century).