What 𗆼 means
A reconstructed reading does not give 𗆼 a dependable English gloss. Scholars write its Tangut reading as *ꞏjiw²; this technical notation records an estimated pronunciation, not a translation into English or Mandarin.
Tangut script was a state project for Western Xia in 1036–37. Its earliest surviving example is an official document sent to a military official in Guazhou in 1072. Tangut writing served government offices and schools, and carried Buddhist translations and printed books.
After Western Xia fell in 1227, Tangut writing continued in religious and literary works; a known later inscription dates to 1502.
Why does it resemble a Chinese character?
It uses a square visual style, but belongs to a separate script. Tangut sources describe Tangut and Chinese writing as distinct in appearance yet related at root. Possible influence from the earlier Khitan script, another historical writing system, remains debated in modern scholarship.
That connection does not make 𗆼 a Chinese character or give it a Mandarin reading; its meaning has to be read in Tangut text.
Primarily encountered in scholarship and historical texts; opaque on its own in ordinary conversation.
Don't infer a Mandarin reading from its square shape.
Part of collections
Who writes 𗆼
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Related characters
2
Questions people ask
1Why does 𗆼 show as a box on some devices?
Not every system ships a font for the Tangut block. Where none is installed, the character shows as an empty box; adding a font such as Noto fixes it. The character itself is still correct and copies correctly.
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How to type or find 𗆼
- Also called
- L2008-3501 · LFW 3501
- Search it as
- 171bc · 𗆼 · tangut · tangut script · xixia · xixia script · tangut character meaning · tangut font
- Shows up in
- Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws
𗆼\171BCCodes and encoding1 code points
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.