approvedby Peter Olson · Dec 24, 2020, 05:01 AM· Reviewed by Peter Olson on Dec 24, 2020, 05:01 AM
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Original meaning: leaf
Origin unclear. Various explanations include (1) depicting three leaves on branches of a tree, a remnant from the top part of 枼 (leaf), which was phonetically similar in Old Chinese, (2) three dots added above the phonetically similar 止, or (3) three copies of 十 (ten), similar to the archaic character 卅 (thirty), depicting a 30-year generation.
Character Evolution
BronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeSpring and Autumn771-476 BCBronzeSpring and Autumn771-476 BCBronzeEarly Spring and Autumn~700 BCBronzeMid Warring States~300 BCBronzeMid Warring States~300 BCBronzeLate Warring States~250 BCSealMid Western Zhou~900 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWestern Han202 BC-9 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADRegularModern
