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The character 舞 (wǔ) originally depicted a dancer holding ornamental ox tails or other ritual objects in both hands. In oracle bone script, it showed a person with outstretched arms holding dance implements. The character evolved through bronze script to clerical script, maintaining the core meaning of 'to dance' or 'dance performance.' It belongs to the phono-semantic compound (形声) category of Liushutong, combining the semantic element 舛 (feet movement) with 無 (which provides sound and originally represented dancing figures). The character carries connotations of rhythmic movement, performance, and ceremonial dance in ancient Chinese rituals. Arrived in Japan: The character 舞 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, primarily through the introduction of Chinese writing systems and Buddhist texts. It became incorporated into the Japanese language as part of the kanji importation waves, appearing in early Japanese texts like the Manyōshū (8th century). The character maintained its dancing meaning in Japanese, seen in words like 舞う (mau - to dance) and 舞踊 (buyō - dance performance), and was particularly significant in the context of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Noh and Kabuki theater.