About
The character "旒" is structured with the semantic component "㫃", denoting flags or banners, and the phonetic component "㐬", which supplies its pronunciation. Its original meaning centered on the pendants or tassels attached to the borders of flags. Later, the term was applied to the hanging jade beads on ceremonial headgear, specifically the strands adorning an emperor's crown, known as "冕旒". This extension in meaning from textile streamers to ritual adornment reflects a shift in contextual use without change to the character's form.