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The character 纣 is a phono-semantic compound with the silk radical 纟 on the left and the phonetic component 寸 on the right. Its traditional form 紂 uses the full silk radical 糸 on the left. Etymologically, it originally referred to the crupper of a saddle or the ropes used to bind a horse. However, the character became overwhelmingly associated with King Zhou of Shang, a historical ruler known for extreme cruelty and tyranny. This association largely overshadowed its original textile and equestrian meanings, so the character now primarily denotes tyranny, wickedness, and oppressive governance.
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