Tangut Ideograph-18481

It means “middle” in Tangut. A Tangut dictionary lists it as entry L1152, gives its reconstructed historical reading in scholarly notation as ¹duq₄, and glosses it with the Chinese character 中. That notation records a scholarly reconstruction, not a modern pronunciation guide.

Emperor Li Yuanhao ordered the Tangut script, which entered use in 1036. It served government writing and a Tangut Buddhist canon—a collection of Buddhist scriptures—and marked a distinct identity from Song China.

A manuscript from Khara-khoto probably dates to the 12th or early 13th century; the script's wider use ran from 1036 to 1502. These dates describe Tangut writing, not this character's first appearance.

Is 𘒁 Chinese or Tangut?

It is Tangut writing, not Chinese. Tangut script was modeled on Chinese writing, but the two scripts are distinct: knowing Chinese does not let you read Tangut. The dictionary gloss 中 means “middle”; it does not make 𘒁 a Chinese character.

A font needs Tangut coverage to draw the glyph. If it appears as a box, the text may still be valid; try a font that supports Tangut.

Someone sent me 𘒁 — what are they saying?

Without context, read it as Tangut text, not a reaction. Someone may be quoting Tangut or pointing to Western Xia, the state and culture associated with the script. The character alone does not reveal which; ask the sender if it matters.