Definitions

yuè spring imperial ancestral sacrifice

Etymology

About

The character 礿 is a phono-semantic compound denoting the spring sacrifice in ancient ceremonial traditions. Its structure centers on the semantic radical 示, which relates to spirits, altars, or rituals, immediately connecting the character to religious rites. The right component 勺 serves as the phonetic element, providing the pronunciation "yuè". Historically, 礿 appeared in classical ritual texts and chronicles to specifically designate the spring sacrifice, distinguishing it from seasonal ceremonies like those in summer, autumn, or winter. Its usage remains confined to historical and religious contexts, reflecting how the writing system developed precise vocabulary to categorize the structured ceremonial calendar of ancient courts and society.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern