What are the characters in this seal script inscription on an ancestral altar?

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Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine

Hi, this four character inscription is on an ancestral altar which contains two spirit tablets. I am unsure of the more modern equivalents of these characters and would be grateful for any assistance.

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

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Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

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asked Dec 4 at 3:48

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up vote
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down vote

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Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

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asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

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Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine

character-identification seal

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

6,2661618

asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

162

New contributor

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

6,2661618

asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

162

New contributor

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

6,2661618

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

6,2661618

edited Dec 4 at 8:45

droooze

6,2661618

asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

162

New contributor

asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

162

asked Dec 4 at 3:48

Leigh

162

New contributor

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as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝

思: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思

維: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維

則: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

成王之孚

下土之式

永言孝思

孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

He secured the confidence due to a king,

And became a pattern of all below him.

Ever thinking how to be filial,

His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

The characters are 孝思維則, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology Classic of Poetry - Major Court Hymns.

《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，孝思維則」

As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:

[Man] must forever abide by filial piety, for filial piety is the moral code [of Man].

enter image description here

「孝」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*qʰˤuʔ-s/ > Middle Chinese: /hˠau^H/, Fanqie: 呼敎切, filial piety) is composed of

「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rˤuʔ/ > MC: /lɑu^X/, Fanqie: 盧晧切, old), both a semantic and a phonetic component;

「子」(child), a semantic component.

「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.

A1 西周金曶鼎集成2838A2 楚簡郭・語3・61 　A3 篆說文解字 　A4 秦簡睡・法102 　A5 現代楷 　

老

「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).

B1 商甲乙8896 合集22246B2 商甲前2.2.6 合集36416B3 西周金殳季良父壺集成9713B4 秦簡睡・雜32 　B5 現代楷 　

子

「子」depicts a young child.

C1 商甲甲2903 合集20576C2 楚簡包2・66 　C3 秦簡睡・秦62 　C4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə/ > MC: /sɨ/, Fanqie: 息兹切, to think about / to miss) is composed of

「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə[r]-s/ > MC: /siɪn^H/, Fanqie: 息晉切), a phonetic component;

「心」(heart/mind), a semantic component.

The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

D1 戰國金五年龏令思集成11348D2 秦簡睡・為49 　D3 現代楷 　

心

「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).

E1 商甲甲3510 合集6E2 西周金史墻盤集成10175E3 楚簡包2・218 　E4 篆說文解字 　E5 魏隸上尊號奏 　E6 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/ > MC: /jiuɪ/, Fanqie: 以追切, to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve) is composed of

「糸」(fine silk), a semantic component;

「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/), a phonetic component.

/*ɢʷij/ for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from /*tur/ > /t͡ɕiuɪ/, 職追切.

F1 春秋金蔡侯墓殘鐘集成224F2 篆說文解字 　F3 楚簡曾123 　F4 現代楷 　

糸

「糸」depicts fine silk threads.

G1 商甲京津4487 合集28401G2 篆說文解字 　G3 現代楷 　

隹

「隹」depicts a bird.

H1 商甲乙660 合集2317H2 戰國金陳侯午敦集成4647G3 篆說文解字 　G4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「則」(patterns > norms/rules) is composed of

「鼎」(cauldron), a semantic component;

「刀・刂」(knife), a semantic component.

The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

J1 西周金曶鼎集成2838J2 春秋金曾子𡱵簠集成4528J3 篆說文解字 　J4 秦簡睡・日甲39 　J5 現代楷 　

刀

「刀・刂」depicts a knife.

K1 商甲甲3092 合集20349K2 篆說文解字 　K3 秦簡睡・日甲26 　K4 現代楷 　

References:

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》

季旭昇《說文新證》

小學堂

國學大師

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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up vote
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down vote

as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝

思: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思

維: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維

則: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

成王之孚

下土之式

永言孝思

孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

He secured the confidence due to a king,

And became a pattern of all below him.

Ever thinking how to be filial,

His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝

思: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思

維: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維

則: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

成王之孚

下土之式

永言孝思

孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

He secured the confidence due to a king,

And became a pattern of all below him.

Ever thinking how to be filial,

His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝

思: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思

維: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維

則: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

成王之孚

下土之式

永言孝思

孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

He secured the confidence due to a king,

And became a pattern of all below him.

Ever thinking how to be filial,

His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝

思: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思

維: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維

則: http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

成王之孚

下土之式

永言孝思

孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

He secured the confidence due to a king,

And became a pattern of all below him.

Ever thinking how to be filial,

His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

answered Dec 4 at 5:00

水巷孑蠻

7,0671521

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

The characters are 孝思維則, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology Classic of Poetry - Major Court Hymns.

《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，孝思維則」

As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:

[Man] must forever abide by filial piety, for filial piety is the moral code [of Man].

enter image description here

「孝」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*qʰˤuʔ-s/ > Middle Chinese: /hˠau^H/, Fanqie: 呼敎切, filial piety) is composed of

「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rˤuʔ/ > MC: /lɑu^X/, Fanqie: 盧晧切, old), both a semantic and a phonetic component;

「子」(child), a semantic component.

「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.

A1 西周金曶鼎集成2838A2 楚簡郭・語3・61 　A3 篆說文解字 　A4 秦簡睡・法102 　A5 現代楷 　

老

「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).

B1 商甲乙8896 合集22246B2 商甲前2.2.6 合集36416B3 西周金殳季良父壺集成9713B4 秦簡睡・雜32 　B5 現代楷 　

子

「子」depicts a young child.

C1 商甲甲2903 合集20576C2 楚簡包2・66 　C3 秦簡睡・秦62 　C4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə/ > MC: /sɨ/, Fanqie: 息兹切, to think about / to miss) is composed of

「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə[r]-s/ > MC: /siɪn^H/, Fanqie: 息晉切), a phonetic component;

「心」(heart/mind), a semantic component.

The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

D1 戰國金五年龏令思集成11348D2 秦簡睡・為49 　D3 現代楷 　

心

「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).

E1 商甲甲3510 合集6E2 西周金史墻盤集成10175E3 楚簡包2・218 　E4 篆說文解字 　E5 魏隸上尊號奏 　E6 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/ > MC: /jiuɪ/, Fanqie: 以追切, to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve) is composed of

「糸」(fine silk), a semantic component;

「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/), a phonetic component.

/*ɢʷij/ for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from /*tur/ > /t͡ɕiuɪ/, 職追切.

F1 春秋金蔡侯墓殘鐘集成224F2 篆說文解字 　F3 楚簡曾123 　F4 現代楷 　

糸

「糸」depicts fine silk threads.

G1 商甲京津4487 合集28401G2 篆說文解字 　G3 現代楷 　

隹

「隹」depicts a bird.

H1 商甲乙660 合集2317H2 戰國金陳侯午敦集成4647G3 篆說文解字 　G4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「則」(patterns > norms/rules) is composed of

「鼎」(cauldron), a semantic component;

「刀・刂」(knife), a semantic component.

The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

J1 西周金曶鼎集成2838J2 春秋金曾子𡱵簠集成4528J3 篆說文解字 　J4 秦簡睡・日甲39 　J5 現代楷 　

刀

「刀・刂」depicts a knife.

K1 商甲甲3092 合集20349K2 篆說文解字 　K3 秦簡睡・日甲26 　K4 現代楷 　

References:

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》

季旭昇《說文新證》

小學堂

國學大師

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

The characters are 孝思維則, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology Classic of Poetry - Major Court Hymns.

《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，孝思維則」

As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:

[Man] must forever abide by filial piety, for filial piety is the moral code [of Man].

enter image description here

「孝」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*qʰˤuʔ-s/ > Middle Chinese: /hˠau^H/, Fanqie: 呼敎切, filial piety) is composed of

「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rˤuʔ/ > MC: /lɑu^X/, Fanqie: 盧晧切, old), both a semantic and a phonetic component;

「子」(child), a semantic component.

「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.

A1 西周金曶鼎集成2838A2 楚簡郭・語3・61 　A3 篆說文解字 　A4 秦簡睡・法102 　A5 現代楷 　

老

「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).

B1 商甲乙8896 合集22246B2 商甲前2.2.6 合集36416B3 西周金殳季良父壺集成9713B4 秦簡睡・雜32 　B5 現代楷 　

子

「子」depicts a young child.

C1 商甲甲2903 合集20576C2 楚簡包2・66 　C3 秦簡睡・秦62 　C4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə/ > MC: /sɨ/, Fanqie: 息兹切, to think about / to miss) is composed of

「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə[r]-s/ > MC: /siɪn^H/, Fanqie: 息晉切), a phonetic component;

「心」(heart/mind), a semantic component.

The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

D1 戰國金五年龏令思集成11348D2 秦簡睡・為49 　D3 現代楷 　

心

「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).

E1 商甲甲3510 合集6E2 西周金史墻盤集成10175E3 楚簡包2・218 　E4 篆說文解字 　E5 魏隸上尊號奏 　E6 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/ > MC: /jiuɪ/, Fanqie: 以追切, to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve) is composed of

「糸」(fine silk), a semantic component;

「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/), a phonetic component.

/*ɢʷij/ for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from /*tur/ > /t͡ɕiuɪ/, 職追切.

F1 春秋金蔡侯墓殘鐘集成224F2 篆說文解字 　F3 楚簡曾123 　F4 現代楷 　

糸

「糸」depicts fine silk threads.

G1 商甲京津4487 合集28401G2 篆說文解字 　G3 現代楷 　

隹

「隹」depicts a bird.

H1 商甲乙660 合集2317H2 戰國金陳侯午敦集成4647G3 篆說文解字 　G4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「則」(patterns > norms/rules) is composed of

「鼎」(cauldron), a semantic component;

「刀・刂」(knife), a semantic component.

The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

J1 西周金曶鼎集成2838J2 春秋金曾子𡱵簠集成4528J3 篆說文解字 　J4 秦簡睡・日甲39 　J5 現代楷 　

刀

「刀・刂」depicts a knife.

K1 商甲甲3092 合集20349K2 篆說文解字 　K3 秦簡睡・日甲26 　K4 現代楷 　

References:

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》

季旭昇《說文新證》

小學堂

國學大師

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

add a comment |

up vote
4
down vote

The characters are 孝思維則, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology Classic of Poetry - Major Court Hymns.

《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，孝思維則」

As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:

[Man] must forever abide by filial piety, for filial piety is the moral code [of Man].

enter image description here

「孝」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*qʰˤuʔ-s/ > Middle Chinese: /hˠau^H/, Fanqie: 呼敎切, filial piety) is composed of

「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rˤuʔ/ > MC: /lɑu^X/, Fanqie: 盧晧切, old), both a semantic and a phonetic component;

「子」(child), a semantic component.

「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.

A1 西周金曶鼎集成2838A2 楚簡郭・語3・61 　A3 篆說文解字 　A4 秦簡睡・法102 　A5 現代楷 　

老

「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).

B1 商甲乙8896 合集22246B2 商甲前2.2.6 合集36416B3 西周金殳季良父壺集成9713B4 秦簡睡・雜32 　B5 現代楷 　

子

「子」depicts a young child.

C1 商甲甲2903 合集20576C2 楚簡包2・66 　C3 秦簡睡・秦62 　C4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə/ > MC: /sɨ/, Fanqie: 息兹切, to think about / to miss) is composed of

「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə[r]-s/ > MC: /siɪn^H/, Fanqie: 息晉切), a phonetic component;

「心」(heart/mind), a semantic component.

The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

D1 戰國金五年龏令思集成11348D2 秦簡睡・為49 　D3 現代楷 　

心

「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).

E1 商甲甲3510 合集6E2 西周金史墻盤集成10175E3 楚簡包2・218 　E4 篆說文解字 　E5 魏隸上尊號奏 　E6 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/ > MC: /jiuɪ/, Fanqie: 以追切, to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve) is composed of

「糸」(fine silk), a semantic component;

「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/), a phonetic component.

/*ɢʷij/ for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from /*tur/ > /t͡ɕiuɪ/, 職追切.

F1 春秋金蔡侯墓殘鐘集成224F2 篆說文解字 　F3 楚簡曾123 　F4 現代楷 　

糸

「糸」depicts fine silk threads.

G1 商甲京津4487 合集28401G2 篆說文解字 　G3 現代楷 　

隹

「隹」depicts a bird.

H1 商甲乙660 合集2317H2 戰國金陳侯午敦集成4647G3 篆說文解字 　G4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「則」(patterns > norms/rules) is composed of

「鼎」(cauldron), a semantic component;

「刀・刂」(knife), a semantic component.

The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

J1 西周金曶鼎集成2838J2 春秋金曾子𡱵簠集成4528J3 篆說文解字 　J4 秦簡睡・日甲39 　J5 現代楷 　

刀

「刀・刂」depicts a knife.

K1 商甲甲3092 合集20349K2 篆說文解字 　K3 秦簡睡・日甲26 　K4 現代楷 　

References:

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》

季旭昇《說文新證》

小學堂

國學大師

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

The characters are 孝思維則, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology Classic of Poetry - Major Court Hymns.

《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，孝思維則」

As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:

[Man] must forever abide by filial piety, for filial piety is the moral code [of Man].

enter image description here

「孝」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*qʰˤuʔ-s/ > Middle Chinese: /hˠau^H/, Fanqie: 呼敎切, filial piety) is composed of

「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*C.rˤuʔ/ > MC: /lɑu^X/, Fanqie: 盧晧切, old), both a semantic and a phonetic component;

「子」(child), a semantic component.

「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.

A1 西周金曶鼎集成2838A2 楚簡郭・語3・61 　A3 篆說文解字 　A4 秦簡睡・法102 　A5 現代楷 　

老

「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).

B1 商甲乙8896 合集22246B2 商甲前2.2.6 合集36416B3 西周金殳季良父壺集成9713B4 秦簡睡・雜32 　B5 現代楷 　

子

「子」depicts a young child.

C1 商甲甲2903 合集20576C2 楚簡包2・66 　C3 秦簡睡・秦62 　C4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə/ > MC: /sɨ/, Fanqie: 息兹切, to think about / to miss) is composed of

「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*[s]ə[r]-s/ > MC: /siɪn^H/, Fanqie: 息晉切), a phonetic component;

「心」(heart/mind), a semantic component.

The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

D1 戰國金五年龏令思集成11348D2 秦簡睡・為49 　D3 現代楷 　

心

「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).

E1 商甲甲3510 合集6E2 西周金史墻盤集成10175E3 楚簡包2・218 　E4 篆說文解字 　E5 魏隸上尊號奏 　E6 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/ > MC: /jiuɪ/, Fanqie: 以追切, to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve) is composed of

「糸」(fine silk), a semantic component;

「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: /*ɢʷij/), a phonetic component.

/*ɢʷij/ for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from /*tur/ > /t͡ɕiuɪ/, 職追切.

F1 春秋金蔡侯墓殘鐘集成224F2 篆說文解字 　F3 楚簡曾123 　F4 現代楷 　

糸

「糸」depicts fine silk threads.

G1 商甲京津4487 合集28401G2 篆說文解字 　G3 現代楷 　

隹

「隹」depicts a bird.

H1 商甲乙660 合集2317H2 戰國金陳侯午敦集成4647G3 篆說文解字 　G4 現代楷 　

enter image description here

「則」(patterns > norms/rules) is composed of

「鼎」(cauldron), a semantic component;

「刀・刂」(knife), a semantic component.

The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.

J1 西周金曶鼎集成2838J2 春秋金曾子𡱵簠集成4528J3 篆說文解字 　J4 秦簡睡・日甲39 　J5 現代楷 　

刀

「刀・刂」depicts a knife.

K1 商甲甲3092 合集20349K2 篆說文解字 　K3 秦簡睡・日甲26 　K4 現代楷 　

References:

黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》

季旭昇《說文新證》

小學堂

國學大師

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

edited Dec 4 at 8:59

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

answered Dec 4 at 7:58

droooze

6,2661618

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