Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 雪 (snow) evolved from ancient oracle bone inscriptions depicting falling snow below a cloud or sky element. In Liushutong, the form shows the rain radical (雨) above a sweeping hand (彐), representing both the meteorological phenomenon and the action of sweeping or cleaning - as snow blankets and purifies the landscape. This reflects the ancient Chinese understanding of snow's dual nature as both weather and cleansing force. Arrived in Japan: The character 雪 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, likely through the introduction of Chinese writing systems via Buddhist texts and cultural exchange during the Kofun and Asuka periods. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji characters adopted from China.