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The character 髡 is a phono-semantic compound structured with 髟 (biāo, hair) on top to suggest the meaning and 元 (yuán) on the bottom for sound. It originally denoted an ancient penal practice: forcibly shaving the head. In traditional Chinese values, intact hair was a sign of filial piety, so this shaving served as a humiliating punishment, not a mere cosmetic change. Over time, the meaning broadened to include any state of baldness or a shaven head, and could even be applied to trees or landscapes stripped of foliage.
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