Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 知 (zhī) evolved from ancient pictographs representing 'knowledge' or 'to know.' It combines 矢 (arrow) and 口 (mouth), suggesting the concept of speaking with precision and speed like an arrow. In Liushutong, L01380 shows an early form where these components are clearly distinguishable, evolving through seal script into the modern kanji. The character embodies the Confucian ideal that true knowledge involves both understanding and articulate expression. Arrived in Japan: The character 知 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, when the Japanese writing system was developing and adopting Chinese characters (kanji) through cultural exchange with China and the Korean peninsula.