[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Hand-Actions # 盛 chéng，shèng to hold; prosperous ## Components [[皿 (mǐn)]] [[成 chéng]] ## Meaning Nowadays, the character "盛" (chéng, shèng) has two primary meanings depending on its pronunciation: 1. **Chéng (盛)**: This pronunciation often means "to hold" or "to contain," typically referring to placing food or items into a container. 2. **Shèng (盛)**: This pronunciation can mean "abundant," "prosperous," or "flourishing." It is often used in contexts describing richness, grandeur, or vibrant conditions, such as "盛况" (shèngkuàng), meaning "grand occasion." Overall, "盛" encompasses ideas related to containment and abundance, depending on the context in which it is used. ## History The character "盛" (chéng, shèng) is a phono-semantic compound. The component "皿" indicates a container, representing the act of holding food or items. The phonetic part "成" (chéng) conveys the idea of completion or realization. The original meaning of "盛" is to place things into a container or to hold something. It has two pronunciations: "chéng" refers to holding or containing, while "shèng" can denote abundance or flourishing conditions. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[盛 ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[盛 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[盛 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[盛 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[盛 reg.svg]]