# Original Kanji Composition **URL:** \ **Category:** Kanji\ **Created:** [August 15, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040 "2021-08-15T12:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RalfKanjii](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@RalfKanjii](https://community.wanikani.com/u/RalfKanjii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/1 "2021-08-15T12:32:21Z")
Is was wondering whether there are any dictionaries around that explain what the “inventors” of certain kanji meant when they first sketched them. Most of the time the WK stories are really ok, but sometimes it would be nice to read something more “real”. Or: what does a Japanese teacher tell a 5th grader about the inner workings of a certain kanji? ---
**Author:** ![Leebo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/leebo/32/439476_2.png) [@Leebo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Leebo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/2 "2021-08-15T12:39:40Z")
Kanji go back far enough that we don’t really know what the “inventors” thought. The earliest versions we have are things that were able to survive because they were carved into turtle bones (hence the turtle motif here). But there are lots of resources for seeing those ancient forms and how they morphed over time to the shapes they have now. But, just be aware, sometimes things did just get arbitrarily changed because of sound similarities, ease of writing, or transcription errors. If a kanji looks kind of random and unrelated to its meaning… sometimes it’s just because that’s the way it is. For a free kanji origin dictionary, I recommend the site okjiten.jp [https://okjiten.jp/kanji8.html](https://okjiten.jp/kanji8.html) > **[「茶」という漢字の意味・成り立ち・読み方・画数・部首を学習](https://okjiten.jp/kanji141.html)** > > 漢字の本来の意味(成り立ち)・歴史を学習する事で理解力を高められます。子供/大人の学習教材として活用下さい。 > **[「認」という漢字の意味・成り立ち・読み方・画数・部首を学習](https://okjiten.jp/kanji922.html)** > > 漢字の本来の意味(成り立ち)・歴史を学習する事で理解力を高められます。子供/大人の学習教材として活用下さい。 Wiktionary often has basic descriptions too, and there’s an English version. But they really are often just the most basic info. A nice paper Japanese kanji origin dictionary will have the most information that you can easily get your hands on. I’ll see if I can find the one I have. ---
**Author:** ![Belthazar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/belthazar/32/4469_2.png) [@Belthazar](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Belthazar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/3 "2021-08-15T13:18:46Z")
Oh, I thought you meant modern kanji composition, like this: > [@Kanji Creation Contest Results! (Corona Themed)](https://community.wanikani.com/t/kanji-creation-contest-results-corona-themed/48083): > > Apparently there was a [contest](https://sousaku-kanji.com/) to create a new kanji this year! The prompt of the contest was: 100年後まで残る漢字を作ってみませんか or, Why don’t you create a kanji that will last for 100 years? Here’s the grand prize winner! 音：ザ 訓：はなれてすわる（ソーシャルディスタンス） It’s 座 but the people have to social distance… Other winners: [image] 音：ワ 訓：はなれてはなす（ソーシャルディスタンス） It’s 話 but we still have to social distance… [image] 音：タイ （コロコロ） 訓：ふとる（ころなぶとり） Getting fat (太) because of the coronavirus (コロ)… [image] 音：カ… You can tell what the creators were thinking when they made these, and it certainly gives me the warm fuzzies when I work out the pun that’s going on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![humaniac](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/humaniac/32/367792_2.png) [@humaniac](https://community.wanikani.com/u/humaniac)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/4 "2021-08-15T14:16:36Z")
When i started wanikani i bought [A Guide to Remembering Japanese Kanji by Kenneth G. Henshall](https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Japanese-Characters-1989-12-15-Hardcover-dp-B012TY3K42/dp/B012TY3K42/ref=mt_other?tag=tofugu08-20) after seeing it recommended on here. I found it pretty interesting and helpful in my studies. > **Here are some example entries** > > ![1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/a/a/d/aad68fca804366f68482ebca86f49d2bc831a15a.jpeg) > ![4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/2/f/a/2fa3faca4f8c74201602d4804bc1c0a2787c77f8.png) ---
**Author:** ![RalfKanjii](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@RalfKanjii](https://community.wanikani.com/u/RalfKanjii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/5 "2021-08-15T15:16:08Z")
Thank you so much. There seems to be a new edition: # The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji: Remembering and Understanding the 2,136 Standard Japanese Characters Christopher Seely & Kenneth G. Henshall ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/6/2/a/62a8b0f4c59ff2c5b6651ffcf43531480b3e5297.png) [@system](https://community.wanikani.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/original-kanji-composition/53040/6 "2022-08-15T15:16:44Z")
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