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奁, the simplified form of 奩, historically referred to a traditional cosmetic box or vanity case for storing mirrors, combs, makeup, and other personal grooming items. The traditional character consists of the semantic radical 匚 (box/receptacle) enclosing the phonetic component 僉, while the modern simplified version vertically stacks 大 (person) over 区 (container), as if depicting someone packing a suitcase. Beyond this literal meaning, 奁 also came to refer to a bride's trousseau or dowry, the collection of personal goods, clothing, and valuables she brought to marriage, and because of this association, it frequently appears in classical literature and historical documents concerning marriage customs and the personal domestic lives of women in historical Chinese society.
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