Tangut character 𘂛

Its reconstructed reading is written tshe²; context supplies the word meaning.

The Tangut script was made for the Western Xia state in 1036 and used in government records, schools, and Buddhist translations printed as books. Its square, complex signs resemble Chinese characters, but Tangut was a separate script for a different language.

Tangut writing continued after Western Xia fell in 1227. A pair of stone pillars bearing dhāraṇī—Buddhist ritual texts—erected in 1502 are the latest known examples. A 2023 study identifies 𘂛𘈘 in a Yuan-period dictionary preface as a Tangut transcription of Tibetan ’khyug yig, a phrase meaning “cursive writing.”

What does it mean when someone sends 𘂛?

Treat it as Tangut text or a font test.

A Tangut specialist may be pointing to a manuscript or dictionary entry; the isolated character alone does not supply a reliable translation. Ask for the source or intended reading before translating it.

Why is 𘂛 missing on my screen?

A font without Tangut glyphs cannot display it.

The text character and the image a font draws are separate: the browser or app needs a Tangut-capable web or system font. A blank square or replacement mark usually signals missing glyph coverage; it does not change the underlying character.