Tangut Ideograph-17C73

It is a Tangut character; the encoding label is not its translation.

𗱳 belongs to Tangut, also called Xixia, a historical script used in the Western Xia state. The encoded name identifies the sign but does not give its Tangut reading or word. Tangut was visually inspired by Chinese writing, yet it is a distinct script. The practical distinction in Tangut vs Chinese characters is that they are separate writing systems, not two names for the same sign.

Why was Tangut writing created?

It supported Western Xia state-building and Buddhist translation.

Historical accounts place the script’s creation around 1036 under the first Western Xia emperor. It helped the state express a distinct identity alongside Song China and supported the translation of a large collection of Buddhist scriptures. Tangut writing also carried official and literary works, including Chinese texts on Confucian teaching and military affairs. The neighboring Khitan people had already set a precedent by creating a state script of their own.

What happened to Tangut writing?

Tangut remained in use after Western Xia fell, then passed out of everyday use.

Written Tangut continued through the Yuan and Ming periods and was obsolete by the end of the Ming dynasty. The surviving record includes books, Buddhist sutras, inscriptions, and manuscripts. Those records let researchers study the script; modern fonts and input tools also make Tangut available in digital text.