璋

zhāng

王 + 章

Definitions

zhāng jade tablet used in ceremonies, shaped like the left or right half of a "gui" 圭[guī], also given to male infants to play with

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 玉 represents the meaning and 章 represents the sound.

Semantic: 王 Phonetic: 章

About

璋 (zhāng) is a phono-semantic compound referring to an ancient ceremonial jade ornament. The left-side radical 王 is a form of 玉 (yù), meaning 'jade', which indicates the material and places the character among carved jade artifacts used by early Chinese elites. The right-side component 章 (zhāng) provides the sound. The ornament itself was typically shaped like a half-tablet or a blade with a pointed, slanted tip. Historically, these tablets were used in state ceremonies, religious sacrifices to mountains, and diplomatic exchanges. In classical literature, it frequently appears as a symbol of nobility, purity, and the birth of a male heir.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是我送给他的玉璋。

Zhè shì wǒ sòng gěi tā de yù zhāng.

This is the jade zhang I gave to him.

他的名字里有一个璋字。

Tā de míngzì lǐ yǒu yīgè zhāng zì.

There is a "Zhang" character in his name.

这块古玉璋的纹饰很精美。

Zhè kuài gǔ yùzhāng de wénshì hěn jīngměi.

The patterns on this ancient jade zhang are very exquisite.

古代典礼中会用到玉璋。

Gǔdài diǎnlǐ zhōng huì yòng dào yù zhāng.

Jade zhang were used in ancient ceremonies.

璋和圭都是重要的礼器。

Zhāng hé guī dōu shì zhòngyào de lǐqì.

Both zhang and gui are important ritual vessels.

他的品德如圭璋般纯洁无瑕。

Tā de pǐndé rú guīzhāng bān chúnjié wúxiá.

His moral character is as pure and flawless as jade gui and zhang.

考古学家发现了商代的玉璋。

Kǎogǔ xuéjiā fāxiànle shāng dài de yù zhāng.

Archaeologists discovered a jade zhang from the Shang Dynasty.

璋的形制体现了古人的宇宙观。

Zhāng de xíngzhì tǐxiànle gǔrén de yǔzhòuguān.

The shape of the zhang reflects the ancient people's view of the cosmos.

Related Characters

Component: 王

Component: 章

璋