Definitions
a headstall, ornament on a bridle
Etymology
About
鍐 is a phono-semantic compound that pairs the metal radical 金 (left) with the phonetic 㚇 (zōng, right). Its original meaning referred to a metal crown-like ornament placed on a horse's head, reflecting the detailed equestrian terminology of ancient times. Later, in Chinese esoteric Buddhism, the character was borrowed to transliterate the Sanskrit seed syllable Vaṃ, associated with Vairocana Buddha in the Vajradhatu mandala. This religious use relies purely on sound, ignoring the metal radical, and remains prevalent in Buddhist scriptures.
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