About
The character "箜" is a phono-semantic compound composed of the bamboo radical (竹) which indicates its early association with materials used for instruments, and the phonetic component "空" (kōng) which suggests its pronunciation. Its primary and consistent historical use has been in the term "箜篌" (kōnghóu), the name for an ancient Chinese harp, with the bamboo component likely referencing the instrument's construction from bamboo or wood. The character's form and meaning have not shifted significantly, and its traditional form is identical to its modern standard form.