[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Politics-and-Military # 乂 yì to govern ## Components [[丿 (piě)]] ## Meaning The Chinese character "乂" (yì) is a rare character that is not commonly used in modern Chinese. It can mean "to govern" or "to control," and it is often used as a component in other characters, where it contributes to the meaning of "govern" or "control." Additionally, "乂" (yì) can also mean "peaceful" or "harmonious" and is sometimes used in personal names to convey the idea of peace or harmony. However, it is important to note that this character is not commonly used on its own and is mostly seen as a component in other characters. ## History The character "乂" (yì) has evolved over time, and its origin is traced back to the ancient oracle bone script. In its earliest form, "乂" depicted a person with arms outstretched, suggesting the idea of control or governance. Over time, the character became more stylized, and the arms of the person were simplified into two horizontal strokes connected by a vertical stroke. The character further evolved into its current form, which consists of two horizontal strokes connected by a vertical stroke, resembling the shape of a person's torso and arms. This evolution reflects the transition from a pictographic representation of a person to a more abstract symbol representing the idea of control or governance. Today, while the character "乂" (yì) is not commonly used on its own, it is still used as a component in other characters, contributing to their meanings related to governance, control, peace, or harmony. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[乂 yì - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[乂 yì - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[乂 yì - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[乂 yì - reg.svg]]