[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Interpersonal-Relationships # 宗 zōng ancestor ## Components [[宀 mián]] [[宀 (mián)]] [[示 shì]] [[示 (shì)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "宗" is mainly used to refer to ancestral temples or ancestral halls where people worship their ancestors. It can also metaphorically mean "ancestral" or "ancestral lineage." Additionally, it is used in compounds like "宗教" (religion) and "宗旨" (purpose, objective) to denote the main or fundamental principles. ## History In ancient times, "宗" originally referred to ancestral temples where people worshiped their ancestors. In the oracle bone script, it depicted a house with an altar inside, indicating a place for ancestor worship. Later, it extended to mean "ancestral temple" or "ancestral hall." In these temples, emperors and rulers worshiped their ancestors as they believed their power to rule the country was granted by the gods and inherited from their ancestors. These ancestral temples were symbolic of the state, and if they were destroyed, it was considered an omen of the downfall of the nation. The character "宗" is composed of two parts: "宀" (house) and "示" (altar). It symbolizes a house where sacrifices are offered to ancestors. Over time, "宗" also came to refer to clans, as different clans established their own ancestral temples for worship. Today, "宗" can also be used metaphorically to mean "purpose" or "intention," as in "宗旨" (purpose or objective). ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[宗 zōng - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[宗 zōng - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[宗 zōng - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[宗 zōng - cle.svg]] ### Regular Scriptç ![[宗 zōng - reg.svg]]