About
The character 樗 is a phono-semantic compound combining the tree/wood radical 木 with the phonetic 雩 on the right. It refers to the Ailanthus altissima, commonly called the tree of heaven, a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China. In classical Chinese philosophy, particularly Daoist texts, the character took on a metaphorical meaning of uselessness or coarse timber that cannot be used in traditional carpentry. This uselessness was seen paradoxically: by being unfit for human use, the tree is spared from being cut down and lives a long life.
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