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An etymology of the ideograms Gui Mei.54

confucius

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The first of the two ideograms used to illustrate Gui Mei.54 is composed of two elements. On the left, a complex group formed with a character meaning Wall and, below, the one for Foot in the sense of Stopping. On the right another complex group in which the classic form shows the character for Hand and the one for Feathered-Broom; a symbol still quite respected in China.

For centuries Chinese intellectuals and foreign commentators of the Yi Jing were satisfied in explaining this group as representing the destiny of the Housewife. As with the character Woman, the study of ancient characters found on tortoise shells fails to confirm this explanation. The most ancient form of this character rather shows a Female Shaman wearing the symbol of her powers, particularly her imposing feathered crown. The whole of the ideogram therefore means the Walls of the house where the woman stops (where her search ends)…from there may be issued the meaning of Wedding that it possessed anciently.

Its secondary meaning, To Return, To Come Back, still much in use, is derived from a custom about the Cult of the Ancestors. The ritual closing the wedding ceremony consisted of the wedded wife visiting her original family three days following the wedding. She returned to bid farewell and offered a last tribute to her ancestors (for from now on she would offer tribute to those of her husband). This meaning has been reinforced in everyday language by the fact that its sound can not be distinguished from the character Ghosts, as is understood at the exiting level of Kui.38.


The second ideogram is also composed of two groups. On the left the general symbol for Woman. On the right a negation derived from the general symbol for Trees. There is featured an added group of Sprouting Branches, a new generation in progress.

This character, much used, represents in the form of a negation To Become, Something that has not yet reached maturity.

It most unusual sense, Not Yet, is the sense which it represents in the name Wei Ji.64.


Confucius
 

cesca

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Hi Confucius,
Just wanted to say thanks for this post and also the previous one on the etymology of Hexagram 53. I've found them interesting and useful.
 

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