The History of Hiragana: From Calligraphy to Modern Use

The History of Hiragana: From Calligraphy to Modern Use

Hiragana (ひらがな) is one of the three writing systems in Japanese, essential for reading and writing. But did you know it wasn’t always part of standard Japanese writing? In fact, it has an interesting history that dates back over 1,200 years—shaped by calligraphy, literature, and social change.

This article explores the origins, evolution, and modern use of Hiragana, giving you a deeper appreciation for this beautiful script.

1. The Origins of Hiragana: Inspired by Chinese Characters

Early Japanese Writing: Kanji Only

Before Hiragana existed, Japanese was written entirely in Kanji (漢字), which came from China around the 5th to 6th century AD. Since Kanji represented full words and concepts, writing Japanese was complex and limited to the elite.

The Birth of “Man’yōgana”

To make writing easier, Japanese scholars started using Kanji for their phonetic sounds instead of their meanings. This early system, called Man’yōgana (万葉仮名), allowed Japanese words to be written more naturally. However, it was still complicated and inconsistent.

2. The Creation of Hiragana: A Simplified Script

Simplifying Man’yōgana into Hiragana

By the 9th century, Japanese calligraphers started developing a smoother, cursive version of Man’yōgana, which later became Hiragana.

  • Instead of writing full Kanji for sounds, they simplified and stylized them.
  • Over time, these flowing characters became standardized into the 46 Hiragana we use today.

Hiragana’s Role in Women’s Writing

During Japan’s Heian period (794-1185), Hiragana became especially popular among women, who were often not taught Kanji. This led to famous classical works being written in Hiragana, such as:

📖 The Tale of Genji (源氏物語) by Murasaki Shikibu – the world’s first novel.
📜 The Pillow Book (枕草子) by Sei Shonagon – an early diary of life in the Heian court.

Because of this, Hiragana was sometimes called “onnade” (女手), meaning “women’s hand.” However, it eventually became a standard part of the Japanese writing system for everyone.

3. Hiragana’s Evolution in the Modern Era

Standardizing the Characters

By the 19th and 20th centuries, Japan standardized Hiragana into a fixed set of 46 characters. It became:

✅ A fundamental writing system taught in schools.
✅ Used in combination with Kanji for most Japanese text.
✅ Essential for grammar, verb endings, and function words.

Today, Hiragana is the first script Japanese children learn, making it the best starting point for foreign learners as well!

4. How to Learn Hiragana Efficiently

Now that you know the history, how can you master Hiragana quickly?

✅ Use Flashcards for Memorization

  • Flashcards are one of the fastest ways to learn Hiragana.
  • They help with spaced repetition, so you remember characters long-term.
  • VerbaCard’s Hiragana Flashcards make studying structured and effective.

✅ Practice Writing the Characters

  • Write each character by hand to reinforce memory.
  • Follow stroke order to make writing smoother.

✅ Read Simple Texts in Hiragana

  • Try reading children’s books or Hiragana-only articles.
  • Look for furigana (Hiragana readings above Kanji) in beginner books.

Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Hiragana

Hiragana has come a long way—from a simplified calligraphy script in ancient Japan to an essential part of modern writing. Today, it’s the foundation of the Japanese language, and learning it is the first step toward fluency.

🚀 Want to master Hiragana the smart way?
Use VerbaCard’s Hiragana Flashcards to make learning fast, efficient, and fun!

👉 Start your journey today!

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