磬

qìng

殸 + 石

Definitions

qìng chime stones, ancient percussion instrument made of stone or jade pieces hung in a row and struck as a xylophone

Etymology

Depicts a hand striking a musical stone chime with a stick.

About

磬 combines 石, the stone radical, with 殸 (qìng). The upper component 殸 originally showed a hand striking a hanging stone chime with a stick, providing the pronunciation and the action of sounding it. Together, they name a traditional percussion instrument: flat, L-shaped resonant stone or jade pieces suspended from a wooden frame and struck with a mallet. By extension, the character can also refer to a deep bow from the waist that imitates the instrument's hanging shape, a gesture of profound respect or submission.