About
祧 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 礻 (altars, spirits, ceremonies) gives the meaning, while 兆 (omen, trillion) suggests the sound. Historically, it referred to a special ancestral temple reserved for distant forefathers, unlike shrines for the recently deceased. Over generations, as genealogical distance increased, the spirit tablets of these remote ancestors were moved into this temple during elaborate familial rituals. As a verb, it means to inherit or succeed to an ancestral line, reflecting its profound connection to lineage, inheritance, and filial piety in traditional society.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.