Definitions
same as Fuxi 伏羲[fú xī], a mythical emperor; surname Xi
Etymology
Depicts a weapon (我) slaughtering a pig for the purpose of sacrificing an animal for offering. The 我 component was later reanalyzed into phonetic component 義 and the component depicting the slaughtered pig was later reanalyzed as meaning component 兮. Based on the original meaning "sacrificial slaughter", now written as 犧. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "羲" in its traditional form combines the semantic component "羊" for sheep, suggesting an initial association with sacrificial animals, with a complex phonetic element that historically conveyed notions of vapor or breath. Its meaning shifted from these ritualistic contexts to become chiefly used in the name of the mythological sage-king Fuxi, thereby acquiring associations with ancient authority and foundational cultural principles.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
伏羲是中国古代的神话人物。
王羲之的书法非常著名。
他的名字里有一个羲字。
羲和是古代传说中的太阳神。
伏羲和女娲创造了人类。
王羲之的《兰亭序》被誉为天下第一行书。
在古代文化中，伏羲被视为人文始祖。
研究伏羲的神话有助于理解中华文明的起源。