Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 記 evolved from ancient pictographs representing 'speech' and 'self.' In Liushutong, the form shows 言 (speech) combined with 己 (self), creating the meaning 'to record one's words' or 'to note down.' Originally used for documenting official matters and personal accounts, it embodies the concept of preserving speech through writing. Over centuries, the character simplified while maintaining its core structure, eventually becoming the modern 記 used for 'record,' 'chronicle,' or 'remember.' Arrived in Japan: The character 記 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, possibly through Buddhist texts and diplomatic documents during the Yamato period.