Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 飛 depicts a bird with wings spread in flight. In ancient oracle bone script, it clearly showed a bird with two wings outstretched and simplified body. The character evolved through bronze script and seal script, where the wing forms became more stylized but maintained the essential flying bird imagery. The modern form retains the symmetrical wing structure on either side of a central body. The character means 'to fly' or 'flying' and conveys the concept of movement through air, soaring, or rapid movement. Arrived in Japan: The character 飛 was likely introduced to Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader adoption of Chinese writing systems. It appears in early Japanese texts like the Manyoshu (8th century) and was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, retaining its meaning related to flight and aviation.