Definitions
aromatic plant, possibly Dahurian angelica 白芷[bái zhǐ] (archaic)
Etymology
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The character 茝 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the grass radical 艹 with the phonetic component 𦣝, a form visually akin to 臣. It designates a highly fragrant plant, traditionally identified by historical botanists as a specific species of angelica, which features prominently in classical Chinese verse, especially in the ancient Chu Ci. The grass radical places it within the plant kingdom, while its frequent poetic appearances infuse it with deep symbolic meanings of moral purity, personal virtue, and political loyalty. Consequently, 茝 operates both as a precise botanical identifier and as a potent literary symbol.
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