Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 結 (jié) originates from ancient China and is composed of two parts: 糸 (silk/thread) and 吉 (auspicious). Pictorially, it depicts tying or knotting threads together, symbolizing connection, union, or binding. Over time, its meaning expanded to include concepts like 'to tie,' 'to conclude,' 'to form,' and 'result,' reflecting both physical and abstract unions. In the Liushutong, variants like L26654 show early forms emphasizing the intertwined threads, evolving into the modern standardized 結. Arrived in Japan: The character 結 likely arrived in Japan during the early centuries CE, around the Yayoi or Kofun periods, through cultural exchanges with China and the Korean Peninsula. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system by the 5th century CE, as part of the introduction of Chinese characters (kanji) via Buddhist texts and official documents.