About
The character 馗, structurally composed of 九 meaning nine and 首 meaning head, etymologically originated as a term for a nine-way crossroads. Its initial meaning was concrete, referring to such a intersection, but over centuries it became predominantly linked to the legendary figure Zhong Kui, a Daoist deity believed to subdue demons, thereby shifting its primary significance from a physical location to a personal name within mythological context. The traditional form of the character consistently retains this compositional arrangement.
Etymology Hide
