Pictograph of a weapon with a forked blade and long handle. The meaning "I; me" is a phonetic loan.
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeSpring and Autumn771-476 BCBronzeEarly Spring and Autumn~700 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeLate Spring and Autumn~500 BCBronzeEarly Warring States~400 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADClericalQin221-206 BCClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalThree Kingdoms (Cao Wei)222-280 ADRegularModern