The Kanji: 草 (Kusa/Sō) - The "Grass" and "Draft" Kanji
The kanji "草" is a fundamental character representing the concept of "grass," "plants," or "herbs." Its meaning also extends to things that are preliminary or rough, like a "draft."
1. Meaning and Usage
Core Meanings: Grass; plant; herb; draft; preliminary.
Readings:
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): くさ (kusa)
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ソウ (sō)
Common Words and Compounds:
草 (くさ / kusa) - Grass; weed
草原 (そうげん / sōgen) - Grassland; prairie
草書 (そうしょ / sōsho) - Cursive script (The "grass writing" style)
草案 (そうあん / sōan) - Draft (of a document)
草食動物 (そうしょくどうぶつ / sōshoku dōbutsu) - Herbivore (Grass-eating animal)
w (くさ / kusa) - Internet slang for "lol" (derived from 笑 warai, as the character 笑 looks like grass)
2. Writing and Stroke Order: The Early Plant
The correct kanji writing for "草" follows a common top-bottom structure. Its stroke order is logical and builds the character from the top down.
Stroke Order:
The character is composed of the top radical 艹 (the "grass" radical) and the bottom component 早 (early/fast).
Top Radical (艹 - Grass):
Stroke 1: A short right-falling stroke.
Stroke 2: A short left-falling stroke, crossing the first stroke. (This two-stroke "grass" radical is often written as one quick, continuous motion).
Bottom Component (早 - Early):
Stroke 3: A short vertical stroke.
Stroke 4: A horizontal折 through the center.
Stroke 5: A long horizontal stroke at the bottom.
Stroke 6: A vertical折 that starts above, cuts through the long horizontal, and ends with a hook.
Significance of Correct Kanji Writing:
Proportions: The top "grass" radical (艹) should be compact, allowing the bottom component (早) to be the larger, more substantial part of the character. This creates a balanced form.
Component Recognition: Understanding the components is key to remembering the character. The logic is "the plant (艹) that appears early (早) in the season." Grass is often one of the first plants to sprout in spring, making this combination very intuitive.
Radical Knowledge: Recognizing the "grass" radical is crucial for learning hundreds of other kanji related to plants (e.g., 花 - flower, 茶 - tea, 薬 - medicine).
3. Historical Origin and Evolution
The history of "草" shows a clear evolution from a more complex form to a logical, simplified character.
Seal Script (篆書):
The earliest form was "艸", which was a direct pictogram of two small plants sprouting from the ground. This character was a clear depiction of young growth.
Clerical Script (隷書) & Modern Form (楷書):
The form was simplified for easier writing. The double-plant pictogram "艸" was stylized into the modern grass radical "艹". The character "早" (early) was added underneath to create the modern "草".
Conceptual Evolution:
The character's construction is brilliantly logical:
艹 (Plant): The category.
早 (Early): The characteristic.
This creates the meaning of "the early plant" or "the plant that is among the first to grow," which perfectly describes grass. This connection between "early" and "grass" also explains its extended meaning of "draft" or "preliminary"—a draft is the "early" version of a document, just as grass is the early sign of plant growth.
Cultural Connection:
In Japanese culture, "草" holds several important meanings:
Humility and Simplicity: Grass is associated with the common, the humble, and the natural world.
Art and Calligraphy: 草書 (sōsho), or "grass script," is the most fluid and cursive style of Japanese calligraphy. The name evokes the wild, flowing, and natural appearance of the script, as if the characters were blown by the wind like grass.
The Cycle of Life: Grass represents resilience, regrowth, and the simple, enduring forces of nature.
Summary
The kanji "草" is a character that beautifully connects the natural world with human concepts. It began as a simple drawing of sprouting plants and evolved into a logical compound meaning "the early plant." Mastering its stroke order is an important step in Japanese kanji writing, as it reinforces a common radical structure. When you learn how to write kanji like "草," you are not just learning a word for "grass"; you are learning a symbol that represents resilience, the first signs of growth, and the foundational, often humble, beginnings of things—from a sprout in a field to the first draft of a great work.