The word "茅盾" is formed by combining the character "茅" (thatch) and "盾" (shield); it serves as the pen name of writer Shen Yanbing, where "茅" is used homophonically in place of "矛" (spear), so that "茅盾" phonetically echoes "矛盾" (spear-shield), a term meaning contradiction, thereby alluding to conflict through this character substitution.