Thank you for waiting. Today's guests are 男"Man" 父"Father", and special guest, 子"Child".

Nice to meet you, I'm 男"Man".

I'm 父"Father".

I'm 子"Child". (*^^)v

3 of us are about 10,000 years old. (^^♪

Exactly!!

{in a child's voice} Aren't you surprised?

Because I was surprised when I heard how old 女"Woman" and 母"Mother" were.
I'm getting used to it so fast and easily.
By the way, are you all Oracle Bone Script?

{together, but shifting off slightly} We were all Oracle Bone Script who were born in Yin Era of China.

You guys are talking together.
There was a little time lag...

I think it's better to proceed rationally, so we will talk about what we can say together.

Thank you for your concern (^ _ -) - ☆
Please introduce each of you.

Then, let me talk to you first!!
What do you know when you look at these Oracle Bone Scripts and Bronze Scripts?
Actually, two Kanji are combined.

甲骨文字（Oracle Bone Script）

金文（Bronze Script）

One of them is 田"Rice field"...
I don't know the other character.

Well, then what about Tensho?

篆書（Tensho）

The current character is 男"Man", so I think the other Kanji is 力"Strength".

Then what do you think 力"Strength" represent?
I give you a tip : It's tools used in rice fields.

A shovel?

A hoe?

A tractor?

Well, it's almost correct!!
As expected, there was no tractor, but the shape of力"Strength" represents a plow of farm equipment.
I think there were a lot of tools, but I wonder if they were like these.

I see.
When it becomes modern, it looks like this.

That's right. I was combined with 田“Rice-field” that represents the farmland and 耒“Plow” that cultivates the rice field.
In the old days, people who managed farmland were called 男"Man".
Eventually, it came to be used as the meaning of “Male” for 男女“Man and Woman”.

At first, it wasn't the Kanji which means 男"Man" today.
I have been wondering, there have been men and women since a long time ago. Was there any different Kanji for "Man"?

It's a good question.
Mainly the Kanji 人"Person" has represented "Man".

Oh, I see.

Now, let me tell you about me, 父"Father".

Please go ahead.

Well, how do you see me, 父"Father"？

甲骨文字（Oracle Bone Script）

金文（Bronze Script）

篆書（Tensho）

I have no idea. (*_*;

I know that...

The vertical line surrounded in red is the shape of the head of an ax.

And on the right side of the character is called 又(Yu), which represents the shape of a hand and shows the way of holding an axe.

Does this shape represent someone who is going to cut trees with an axe?

Wrong.
In fact, I used to represent a ceremonial (something used in rituals etc.) axe and a symbol of command.

A symbol of command?
Do you mean military commanders?

It's a bit difficult for me.

As I explained earlier, the Kanji for 父"Father" is the shape of holding the head of an axe in the hand, but at first it meant the person who had the right of command, that is, the person who commanded, but later it came to be used to mean 父"Father" because he commanded a child.
Because there were many battles in the past, they used axes and a broad axes(masakari) as weapons when they showed their status.

That sounds kind of scary, but it was such a time!!
Speaking of masakari, Kintaro comes to mind.

What other Kanji characters are used with axes and broad axes?

For example, there is 王"King" as a representative Kanji.
The shape of the ax's head with the blade facing down represents 王"King".

And the Kanji "士" which means "Warrior" who serves a king has a small blade of an ax facing down.

It was the time to rule by force.
I just remembered that there used to be the word 男爵"Baron" as an expression of status, right?

I'll tell you about it.
Baron(danshaku)'s "shaku " is the shape of a sake cup.

It means "Cup (Sakazuki)" like the above. ↑
In the past, kingdoms were used to give a reward, and when the status such as “公(Duke)” or “侯(Marquis)”were given, sake was offered by the cup. Therefore, 公爵"Duke", 侯爵"Marquis", 伯爵"Earl", 子爵"Viscount" and 男爵"Baron" are called the five-ranks and their ranks are called peerage. The first rank of a peerage is called a duke.

I thought it was a word for European aristocracy like France.
It's very informative.
Next, 子"Child", please(^ _ -) - ☆

ZZzzZZzzZZ...

{in a low voice} HUH? It looks like 子"Child" has fallen asleep.

We talked too long!
Please wait a moment while we wake him up.

Oh, please let him continue to sleep.
He is smiling.
He must be dreaming something fun!

Thank you for your concern!
Then, I'll carry him on my back.

Please come together again next time.

Yes, we will.

Good night.

I want you to see the profiles of 男"Man" and 父"Father" here（Man 男/Father 父), Bow-Wow!
By the way, the 爵“Cup” introduced in the photo earlier is what Toshu-sensei owns, Ruff-Ruff!.
Leciel wants to have some sake with this cup someday!
See you next time, Bow-Wow!!

Toshu's Kanji House 12th is here.