[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Celestial-Phenomena # 天 tiān sky; heaven ## Components [[大 (dà)]] [[一 (yī)]] [[一 yī]] ## Meaning Today, the character "天" primarily means "sky" or "heaven". It can also refer to the highest or most supreme aspects of things, both in the natural world and metaphorically. For example, "天庭" (tiāntíng) refers to the forehead. ## History The character "天" originated as a pictogram representing a standing person with a square shape above (indicating the head). In ancient times, this symbolized the head or the area between the eyebrows, known as the "heavenly court". Over time, it became associated with the concept of the sky or heaven. In modern usage, "天" generally means "sky" or "heaven", and it's also used to describe the highest or most supreme aspects of things, both in the natural world and metaphorically. For example, "天庭" (tiāntíng) refers to the forehead. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[大oracular 1.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[天 bronze 1.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[天 seal.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[天 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[天 reg.svg]]