[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Plants # 麻 má hemp (fiber for textiles) ## Components [[广 (guǎng)]] [[林 lín]] ## Meaning Today, the character "麻" (má) primarily refers to hemp, particularly in the context of textiles and rope making. It can also metaphorically describe the sensation of numbness or loss of feeling, such as "麻木" (numbness). Additionally, it retains its association with mourning attire, as seen in the phrase "披麻戴孝" (to wear hemp and mourning bands). ## History The character "麻" (má) is a compound ideogram, originally referring to hemp used to make ropes. In oracle bone script, it depicted a roof symbol atop bundles of hemp fibers hanging indoors, ready for spinning and weaving after drying. In ancient times, "麻" also referred to funeral attire, as seen in the phrase "披麻戴孝." Today, "麻" is used to describe the sensation of numbness or loss of feeling after pressure on the legs, known as "麻木." In ancient scripts, "麻" depicted hemp fibers hanging below cliffs for drying, represented by the radical "厂" (cliff), and later, in seal script, beneath a roof symbol. This symbolizes the practice of drying hemp fibers under the eaves of houses. In clerical script, it evolved into the character "麻." According to the "Shuowen Jiezi," "蘇" (sū) shares the same meaning as "林" (lín), referring to plants processed under the eaves. The character "麻" encompasses all variations associated with hemp. The original meaning of "麻" is hemp suitable for making ropes and textiles. In addition to its literal meaning, it also symbolizes mourning attire, as seen in the phrase "披麻戴孝." ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ? ### Bronze Script ![[麻 má - bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[麻 má - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[麻 má - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[麻 má - reg.svg]]