Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 羅 originally depicted a bird caught in a net, combining the net radical (罒) with components representing feathers and birds. In ancient China, it evolved to mean 'to catch with a net' or 'to collect,' later extending to 'silk gauze' due to the net-like appearance of fine fabric. The character came to represent things arranged in a fine, orderly pattern, giving rise to meanings like 'to display' or 'to spread out.' This evolution from hunting tool to textile to abstract arrangement reflects the character's journey through Chinese cultural history. Arrived in Japan: The character 羅 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system and culture, possibly through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It became incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, used in words like '羅列' (raretsu - enumeration) and '羅針盤' (rashinban - compass).