Definitions
sacrifice
Etymology
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The character 軷 is formed by the semantic radical 車 ('vehicle') on the left and the phonetic component 犮 on the right, which indicates the pronunciation. It names an ancient ceremonial sacrifice to the spirits of the road, performed before embarking on a long or significant journey. The vehicle radical associates this ritual with travel, and the character denotes the propitiatory offerings made to ensure safe passage, protect travellers and their vehicles from accidents, and secure favourable conditions along the route. In this way, 軷 reflects the intersection of transportation and spiritual practice.
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