the character

Japanese sovereign message of 607 AD.
This is shown in the section of Japan of the history of the Sui dynasty.

And the name of the king of Japan have been introduced in that document.

"His family name is Ame.
And his name that received upon reaching adulthood is Tarishihiko."

倭王姓阿毎
字多利思比孤
　
(倭王/the king of Japan)　(姓/family name)　(阿毎/Ame)
(字/a name received upon reaching adulthood) (多利思比孤/Tarishihiko)
　
It was written that way.
　
Note："阿毎多利思比孤・Ame-Tarishihiko"

If we want pronounce in a row like this.

"Ama-no-Tarishihiko"
The sound might change as this.


・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
By the way，字 ( a name received upon reaching adulthood).
I was examined in a dictionary about 字.

"In old China"
Although this proviso is attached.
"字 is a name received upon reaching adulthood."
It had been so described.
　
However，in this case, 字 is mere personal name.　
We think so simply.
It will be no problem.


・・・・・・・・・
　

For example，"芝山泰生"　
This is my name.
　
芝山 is my family name.
And 泰生 is my personal name.
　
This is the naming convention of modern Japan.

In the same way，"孔丘仲尼"
This is the name of Confucius.

孔丘 is his family name.
And 仲尼 is his personal name.

This is a mistake.

孔 is his family name.
丘 is his personal name.
　
And 仲尼 is 字.

In short，there was such naming convention in old China.


・・・・・・・・・


Well.
Today，most general meaning of ”字" is "the character".
Its pronunciation is "Ji".

☟
字・This part represents "the house".
字・This part represents "the child".
☝

"Parents raise their children carefully in the house."

Origin of 字.
It seems like that.
　
"Pregnancy."
"Birth."
　
And it seems there is such a meaning originally in 字.
　
I was a little surprised.
Because such meanings do not exist in this character now.(in Japan)
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　
Long，long time ago in China.
　
Simple and primitive characters.
It seems to have referred to as 文.
　
And new complex characters was born with a combination of it.
It seems to have referred to as 字.
　
Incidentally，Chinese character of a formal "the character" in modern Japan.
It is 文字.
　
Note：In modern Japan.
Meaning of ”the character” is strong in "字".
Meaning of "the sentence" is strong  in "文".