Definitions

ráng sacrifice for avoiding calamity

Etymology

To pray for help  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "禳" is structured with the radical 示, which signifies matters related to worship or spirits, and the component 襄, serving both phonetic and semantic roles associated with aiding or removing. Etymologically, it derives from ancient ritual practices aimed at averting evil or misfortune through prayer and ceremonial intervention. Over time, its meaning has focused specifically on the act of performing rituals to ward off disaster or to seek good fortune, without expanding beyond this religious and superstitious context.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern