Origin unclear. Various explanations include (1) a pictograph of a type of ancient weapon, which could be the original form of 戣, (2) pictograph of four leaves growing opposite from each other or the head of a sunflower, which could be the original form of 葵, or (3) pictograph of two arrows intersecting each other. Either way, the original form is unrelated to the current meaning.
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCOracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeLate Shang~1100 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeMid Western Zhou~900 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeLate Western Zhou~800 BCBronzeMid Warring States~300 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealWestern Han202 BC-9 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealShuowen~100 ADSealJin266-420 ADClericalQin221-206 BCClericalXin9-23 ADClericalXin9-23 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalJin266-420 ADRegularModern
