Palanquin

A palanquin: a seat or cabin carried by people, usually on poles.

Chinese references cite palanquins in Han dynasty texts, including for mountain travel. The character 轎 is not listed in Shuowen, an early Chinese dictionary, so the history of the conveyance and the first appearance of this written form are separate questions.

By the Tang period, carrying people in such chairs had become more general; by the Song period, 轎子 was the common name. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, an official chair could display rank, while a bridal chair marked formal marriage.

Why does 轎 sometimes mean a car?

The car meaning belongs to 轎車, not bare 轎.

In modern Mandarin, 轎車 means a passenger car or sedan. Older usage also applies 轎車 to a covered, two-wheeled carriage pulled by an animal.

Japanese reference works also list 轎 for a people-carried palanquin, with Japanese readings. Chinese and Korean references connect the term with related carried-transport traditions. In Chinese, 肩輿 and 車輿 are overlapping names for this kind of conveyance.

What does 轎 mean in a message?

Read a bare 轎 as a character reference; the surrounding text supplies context.

A message with only 轎 points to palanquin transport, but does not settle which use is meant. 轎子 names the traditional conveyance, 花轎 a bridal sedan, and 轎車 a passenger car or sedan.