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The character 甲 originally depicted the hard shell or armor of a turtle or warrior, representing protection and the first in order. In ancient oracle bone script, it resembled a cross within a square or a protective covering. Over time, it evolved through bronze script and seal script to its current form. 甲 became the first of the Ten Heavenly Stems in Chinese calendrical systems, symbolizing beginnings and leadership. It also carries meanings of armor, shell, and the highest grade or class. Arrived in Japan: The character 甲 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, introduced through the transmission of Chinese writing systems along with Buddhism and Confucian texts. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character and appears in early Japanese documents like the Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE).