Where does “え段” come from?

え段 (Japanese) comes from Japanese 段, from Chinese 段.

え段 (Japanese): the fourth and second-lowest-graded column of the 五十音図, consisting of the nine kana え/エ, け/ケ, せ/セ, て/テ, ね/ネ, へ/ヘ, め/メ, れ/レ and ゑ/ヱ, and sometimes additionally 𛀁/𛄡

Definitions

  1. the fourth and second-lowest-graded column of the 五十音図, consisting of the nine kana え/エ, け/ケ, せ/セ, て/テ, ね/ネ, へ/ヘ, め/メ, れ/レ and ゑ/ヱ, and sometimes additionally 𛀁/𛄡

Ancestry of “え段”, step by step

え段 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Japanese 段

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese段steps (up and down); stairs
2Chinese段—

via Japanese え

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1JapaneseえAlternative form of い
2Middle Chinese衣—
Every word from Chinese 段 →Every word from Japanese 段 →