Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 群 originally depicted three sheep (羴) combined with the radical 君 (ruler), though earlier forms showed sheep gathered around a hill or mound. The core meaning is 'group' or 'flock' - representing sheep gathering together under leadership. Over time, it evolved from specifically meaning a flock of sheep to any group of people or animals, and eventually to the concept of 'society' or 'community'. The modern form 群 maintains the 君 phonetic component and 羊 (sheep) radical, preserving the ancient imagery of organized animal groups while expanding to human social structures. Arrived in Japan: The character 群 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE as part of the wave of Chinese writing system importation, likely through Buddhist texts and Confucian classics. It was formally incorporated into the Japanese writing system during the Nara period (710-794 CE) and appears in early Japanese literary works like the Man'yōshū poetry collection.