Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 漸 (jiàn) originally depicted water slowly soaking into earth, symbolizing gradual progression. In ancient oracle bone script, it showed water flowing over steps or layered earth. By the Liushutong period, it evolved to combine the water radical (氵) with a component suggesting steps or layers, perfectly capturing its core meaning of 'gradually,' 'little by little,' or 'step by step.' This character appears in classical texts like the I Ching (Book of Changes), where it represents the gradual process of development, much like water slowly shaping stone over time. Arrived in Japan: The character 漸 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE as part of the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems through Buddhist scriptures and Confucian classics. It was formally incorporated into Japanese writing during the Nara period (710-794 CE) when the Japanese court systematically adopted Chinese characters (kanji) for official documents and literary works.