[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Celestial-Phenomena # 辰 chén zodiac sign; early time ## Components [[辰 (chén)]] ## Meaning Nowadays, the character "辰" (chén) has several meanings: 1. **Time**: It can refer to a specific time of day, often associated with the morning. - Example: In traditional contexts, "辰" is part of timekeeping systems, denoting specific hours. 2. **Zodiac Sign**: In the Chinese zodiac, "辰" represents the fifth Earthly Branch, corresponding to the Dragon. 3. **Good Time**: It can also imply a good or auspicious moment, as in phrases like "良辰" (liáng chén), meaning a favorable time. While its original agricultural connotation has diminished, "辰" is still associated with concepts of time and auspiciousness in modern usage. ## History The character "辰" (chén) originally referred to a farming tool made from the shell of a clam or similar mollusk. It also denotes time. Historically, "辰" is an ancient form of the character "蜃," and its shape resembles that of a soft-bodied creature like a clam. The character's primary meaning relates to this agricultural tool. In the Chinese zodiac system, "辰" is the fifth position among the twelve Earthly Branches, which are used to record years, months, days, and hours. Additionally, "辰" can be a variant of "晨," meaning "morning," indicating the time of day. It also conveys a sense of time, as seen in expressions like "良辰" (liáng chén), which refers to a beautiful or auspicious time. In modern society, however, people often lead busy lives, leaving little leisure time to enjoy the finer aspects of life. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ![[辰 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[辰 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[辰 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[辰 reg.svg]]