Tangut character 𗣜

It points to a nearby thing or place.

The Tangut index lists 𗣜 as L2173. Scholars reconstruct its reading, conventionally written thju (also thyu). A Chinese–Tangut dictionary glosses it as “this,” while descriptions of Tangut grammar also give it the locative sense “here.” One points to a thing; the other to a place.

A surviving Buddhist manuscript from Khara-Khoto gives the character a Tibetan sound gloss transcribed as thu. That places 𗣜 in a historical text; the index number identifies the entry, not the word’s translation.

Why did Western Xia use Tangut script?

It gave the Western Xia state a written language of its own.

The Tangut-ruled Western Xia state put the script into official use around 1036 and taught it in government schools. This date marks the state script’s launch, not the invention of 𗣜. Tangut characters follow Chinese character structure while recording the Tangut language.

Surviving books include Buddhist scriptures, translations from Chinese and Tibetan, laws, dictionaries, primers, military works, and original literature. After Western Xia fell, Tangut continued in religious and inscriptional use for centuries.

How can I enter 𗣜?

Use Unicode input that supports the full character.

Enter U+178DC with an input method that accepts supplementary-plane characters; a field limited to four hexadecimal digits cannot enter it.

If 𗣜 appears as a square, your selected font lacks Tangut coverage. A Tangut-capable font can draw it; changing fonts does not change the encoded character.