About
The character "蓍" primarily refers to the yarrow plant, a perennial herb whose dried stalks were historically used in a method of divination in China. Its structure combines the grass radical (艹), indicating its botanical nature, with the component "耆", which traditionally served a phonetic function and also carries connotations of age and elders, possibly alluding to the plant's perceived longevity or the venerable practice of divination. Over time, the meaning of the character extended beyond simply denoting the plant itself to encompass the act of divination conducted with its stalks, and by further association, it could refer to the diviner or scholar performing the rite. The traditional form of the character is identical to this "蓍", and its core components have remained consistent in this configuration.
Etymology Hide
