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筮 is both a verb and a noun describing divination by casting yarrow (achillea) stalks to consult spiritual forces. Its structure places the bamboo radical 竹 atop the character, a nod to the plant stalks used, while the lower half is 巫 (wū), meaning shaman, witch, or spirit medium, thus anchoring the character in occult and supernatural communication. The combined elements form an ideograph of a ritual specialist using plant materials to read cosmic signs, setting this technique apart from divination via animal bones or turtle shells.
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