The Kanji: 数 (Kazu/Kazo.eru/Sū) - The "Number" and "Count" Kanji
1. Meaning and Usage
Core Meanings: Number; to count; to enumerate; fate
Readings:
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): かず (kazu), かぞ.える (kazo.eru)
On'yomi (Chinese reading): スウ (sū), ス (su), サク (saku)
Common Words and Compounds:
数字 (すうじ / sūji) - Numeral; digit
数学 (すうがく / sūgaku) - Mathematics
数える (かぞえる / kazoeru) - To count
人数 (にんずう / ninzū) - Number of people
多数 (たすう / tasū) - Majority; large number
2. Writing and Stroke Order: The Woman with the Stylus
The correct kanji writing for "数" is complex but follows logical patterns that reveal its meaning.
Stroke Order:
The character consists of left (娄) and right (攵) components:
Left Component (娄):
Stroke 1-2: "米" radical - right dot and left dot
Stroke 3-4: "女" radical - left-falling stroke and right-falling stroke
Right Component (攵 - strike/action radical):
5. Stroke 5: Short horizontal
6. Stroke 6: Horizontal折 through the center
7. Stroke 7: Left-falling stroke
8. Stroke 8: Right-falling stroke
Significance of Correct Kanji Writing:
Component Balance: The left side should be narrower than the right side
Stroke Order Logic: Follows standard radical stroke order rules
Visual Harmony: The character should appear balanced despite its complexity
3. Historical Origin and Evolution
The history of "数" reveals a fascinating story about ancient counting practices and gender roles.
Bronze Script (金文):
The earliest forms showed a woman (女) holding counting rods or a stylus, often with beads or tally marks nearby. This reflected the practical reality that women often managed household accounts and inventories.
Seal Script (篆書):
The character evolved to include:
女 (woman) - the counter
婁 (bundle/tally) - representing grouped items
攵 (strike/action) - the action of counting
Modern Form (楷書):
The modern "数" maintains these elements:
The top of the left side (米) evolved from tally marks or beads
女 remains clearly visible
攵 preserves the action meaning
Cultural and Philosophical Significance:
"数" embodies deep cultural concepts:
Mathematics and Fate: In East Asian tradition, numbers were connected to destiny and cosmology (運命数 - fate numbers)
Practical Wisdom: Reflects the historical importance of accounting and inventory management
Gender History: Preserves the memory of women's role in early mathematics and record-keeping
The character's composition beautifully captures the essence of enumeration: the person who counts (女), the items being counted (米/娄), and the action of counting itself (攵).
Summary
The kanji "数" represents a profound synthesis of practical mathematics and cultural history. From its origins depicting women counting household items to its modern meaning encompassing all numerical concepts, this character tells a 3,000-year story of human quantification. Mastering its stroke order reveals the logical structure underlying complex kanji. When you learn how to write kanji like "数," you're not just learning a character - you're connecting with ancient accounting practices, gender roles in early mathematics, and the fundamental human need to quantify our world. It's a symbol that counts both objects and the passage of cultural tradition through time.