Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 葬 (zàng) depicts the burial of the dead in ancient China. Its earliest forms in oracle bone script showed a corpse placed between two bundles of twigs or grass, representing how bodies were wrapped in grass mats before burial. Later bronze script versions added '艹' (grass/plants) on top and bottom, emphasizing the covering of the body with vegetation. The modern form consists of 艹 (grass) above and below, with 死 (death) in the middle, perfectly preserving the original concept of 'burying the dead among grass.' The character has always maintained its core meaning related to funeral rites and burial customs. Arrived in Japan: The character 葬 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems and Buddhist texts. It became established in the Japanese writing system during the Asuka period (538-710 CE) when Chinese cultural influence, including writing and Buddhism, was systematically adopted by the Japanese court.