Tangut Ideograph 18106

A Tangut dictionary glosses it as “rank” or “grade.”

Chinese 級 is its dictionary gloss, not an interchangeable character; Tangut indexes list 𘄆 as L0183. Developed under Western Xia’s first emperor about 1036 CE for state use and, scholars think, a Tangut Buddhist canon, the script appears in official, religious, and translated texts. A Khara-Khoto manuscript probably dates to the 12th or early 13th century. Tangut remained in use under the Yuan and Ming before falling out of use; its design drew on Chinese writing and neighboring Khitan traditions.