About
The character 瞽 is a phono-semantic compound with the radical 目 (mù, eye) indicating its semantic category of vision, placed below the phonetic component 鼓 (gǔ, drum). Etymologically, it first meant a person who was completely blind, but early in Chinese history the sense narrowed to refer specifically to blind court musicians who played instruments like drums during ceremonies. This occupational link gave 瞽 a dual meaning: both physical blindness and the specialized role of a court musician, blending sensory impairment with a distinct musical function.
Etymology Hide
