Khitan Small Script Character 18BA0

The available gloss belongs to a longer word. Unicode’s 18.0 standard (2026) describes Khitan Small Script as only partly deciphered. A 2017 proposal reads a three-character spelling in the Khitan script containing 𘮠 as torlpen—an inferred pronunciation glossed “to conquer” or “put down a rebellion.” That reading does not establish the single glyph’s meaning.

When does Khitan Small Script first appear?

The oldest known inscription comes from the Liao’s Chongxi era. A 2025 study identifies the Epitaph of Yelü Yugulin Taishi as the earliest surviving example. An epitaph is a memorial text placed in a tomb with the person it commemorates.

Yelü Diela, younger brother of the Khitan-led Liao emperor, devised the Khitan Small Script about 925 to write Khitan. A 2026 scholarly account says its written forms adapt Chinese characters, while its sound system was modeled on Uyghur writing; the systems have few visible similarities.

The script was used in the Liao dynasty (907–1125), the Western Liao, and the Jin; Jin rulers ended its official use in 1191. Jurchen writing later borrowed and adapted Khitan models. Unicode’s 18.0 standard (2026) describes Khitan Small Script as only partly deciphered.

Why does 𘮠 show as a box or alone?

A missing glyph means the font lacks it; cluster layout also matters. If a font lacks Khitan Small Script, an app may replace 𘮠 with an empty square. That square is a display fallback, not a different character.

The Khitan script can show word-signs on their own, while sound-signs usually join into compact blocks that spell words. A linear font lays out individual characters; a cluster-aware font arranges those blocks. Seeing 𘮠 alone identifies the glyph, but does not show its place in a full word.