[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Politics-and-Military # 王 wáng king; monarch ## Components [[一 (yī)]] [[一 yī]] [[土 (tǔ)]] [[土 tǔ]] ## Meaning Today, the character "王" can still denote a surname, as many individuals carry it as part of their name. However, it's more commonly used in contexts that symbolize dominance or superiority. For example, it might refer to someone who is considered the "king" or leader in a particular field or domain. It can also be employed metaphorically to describe something or someone as being the best or most outstanding among its peers, such as the "king of fruits" referring to a particularly delicious fruit. ## History The character "王" originated as a pictographic character in oracle bone script, resembling the shape of an axe or spade coin, with a broad blade at the bottom. This powerful weapon symbolized strength and authority, leading ancient people to use it to represent the highest ruler, the king. Over time, this evolved into the concept of a monarch or sovereign ruler. In the Shuowen Jiezi, it is described as the destination where all under heaven converge, denoting the king as the ultimate destination of allegiance and obedience. Dong Zhongshu mentioned that the character for "王" was formed by three horizontal lines connected by a vertical line, representing the unity of heaven, earth, and humanity, with the one who comprehends this unity being the king. Confucius emphasized the idea of unity by saying "one guiding three makes a king." While historically referring to the highest ruler, in modern usage, "王" can signify someone or something occupying a leading or dominant position, as in "the king of flowers." Additionally, "王" is commonly used as a surname. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[王 wáng - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[王 wáng - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[王 wáng - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[王 wáng - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[王 wáng - reg.svg]]