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The character "郤" etymologically began with the meaning of a gap or fissure, and its structure incorporates the component "谷" representing a valley alongside the radical "阝" which denotes a settlement or place, indicating an original association with a valley location. This character later evolved to become a surname derived from a fiefdom in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, and its usage shifted from referring to a physical opening to functioning primarily as a familial name and toponym, while its earlier sense of a cleft occasionally extended into classical texts to imply a metaphorical rift or discord.
Etymology Hide
