Definitions
dispatch; order
Etymology
About
The character 檄 combines the wood radical 木 on the left with the phonetic component 敫 on the right. Historically, this structure reflects the practice of inscribing official communications on wooden slips before paper became common. The character specifically refers to an urgent official proclamation or military dispatch used to summon troops, denounce enemies, or announce critical orders. Because such documents required rapid delivery, 檄 conveys a sense of urgency and forceful rhetoric, often appearing as public manifestos meant to rally support and condemn adversaries during wartime.
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