August
03
/ 2015
Examples of some of the oldest kanji, or Chinese characters written in Japanese, inscribed on tiles, have gone on display to the public. They were found years ago at what scholars believe is Japan's first Buddhist temple. The temple is Asukadera, now a historic site in the village of Asuka in Nara Prefecture. Tiles found there include one with the character for “flight.” Asahi Shimbun reports: 'The tiles are thought to date to the temple's founding sometime between the end of the sixth century to the early seventh century [AD]. The characters written on them are some of the oldest of their kind seen in Japan. The kanji for "flight" is also the first character representing the name "Asuka," and
