approvedby Peter Olson · Oct 21, 2020, 04:41 AM· Reviewed by Peter Olson on Oct 21, 2020, 04:41 AM
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Original meaning: tattoo the face for a crime committed
Pictograph of a person whose face has been tattooed. In ancient China criminals were punished by having their faces permanently marked. Later writers reanalyzed the character as a chimney being blackened by fire, so the bottom component was written to look like 炎 (flame).
Character Evolution
Oracle Bone~1250-1000 BCBronzeEarly Western Zhou~1000 BCBronzeEarly Spring and Autumn~700 BCSealWarring States (Chu)475-221 BCSealShuowen~100 ADClericalQin221-206 BCClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalWestern Han202 BC-9 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADClericalEastern Han25-220 ADRegularModern
