[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #States-and-Conditions # 禁 jìn to prohibit, to forbid ## Components [[林 lín]] [[示 (shì)]] [[示 shì]] ## Meaning In modern usage, the character "禁" (jìn) primarily signifies prohibition, indicating actions or behaviors that are not allowed or restricted by rules, laws, or regulations. It also conveys the concepts of control, restraint, and confinement, often in the context of self-discipline or imprisonment. This multifaceted character is used to express a range of ideas relating to prohibition, restriction, and control in various contexts of contemporary society. ## History The character "禁" (jìn) originated as a compound ideograph. It combines 示 (shì), representing a sacrificial altar or spirits, and 林 (lín), symbolizing forests, which were believed to be inhabited by spirits and thus deemed off-limits to people. Its fundamental meaning is prohibition or restraint. "禁" is both a compound ideograph and a phono-semantic character. In its earliest form, 示 indicated spirits, while 林 denoted forest, specifically burial sites surrounded by trees, thus implying places to be avoided due to superstition. 林 also provides the phonetic component. In clerical script, it evolved into the character "茶" (chá). The "Shuowen Jiezi" defines "禁" as prohibitions related to auspicious or inauspicious matters, with 示 representing spirits and 林 indicating sound. Given its association with controlling negative impulses, "禁" also carries the meaning of confinement or detention, particularly in contexts like "监禁" (imprisonment). This usage reflects the idea of restraining undesirable behavior through incarceration. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[禁 jìn - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[禁 jìn - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[禁 jìn - reg.svg]]