ホウ, くに

home country, country, Japan

JLPT1 G7 S7 F654

The relevant oracle bone form of this character is as per # (cone-shaped, fruit-bearing ears of grain) + field. A bronzeware inscription form replaces with 邑 village/settlement → platform built upon a cone-shaped mound of earth that proclaims (to the gods) the ownership of a particular area of land (compare ) → *country* → *Japan*.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]