Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
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The character 襟 (jīn) originally depicted the overlapping front pieces of traditional Chinese clothing. Its ancient form in Liushutong shows the radical 衣 (clothing) combined with phonetic elements. Over time, 襟 evolved to specifically mean 'collar' or 'lapel,' representing the part of clothing that wraps around the neck. This character later developed metaphorical meanings including 'brotherhood' (as in 连襟, meaning brothers-in-law) and 'state of mind' (as in 胸襟, meaning breadth of mind), reflecting how clothing elements became associated with human relationships and inner qualities. Arrived in Japan: The character 襟 arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period (300 BCE - 300 CE) or early Kofun period (300-538 CE) through cultural exchange with China, likely brought by scholars and diplomats. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system during the systematic introduction of Chinese characters in the 5th-6th centuries CE. In Japanese, it's pronounced 'eri' meaning collar, or remains as 'kin' in compound words, maintaining both the literal clothing meaning and metaphorical extensions.