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The character 誓 (shì) meaning 'oath' or 'pledge' has an interesting evolution. It combines 折 (zhé, meaning 'break' or 'bend') with 言 (yán, meaning 'speech' or 'words'). The original concept was that of 'breaking words' - not in the sense of breaking promises, but rather that an oath was so binding that to break it would 'break' the person who swore it. In ancient China, oaths were often sworn with the understanding that violating them would bring divine punishment or personal ruin. Over time, the character came to represent solemn promises, vows, and declarations made with serious intent. Arrived in Japan: The character 誓 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Buddhist texts and diplomatic exchanges. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyōshū (8th century) and was incorporated into the Japanese language with the reading 'chikai' meaning vow or oath.