palm of hand, rule, administer, conduct
掌 centers on the hand as an instrument of control: the palm itself, and by extension the act of ruling, administering, or conducting affairs with one's own hand.
掌 combines 手 (hand) with 尚, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of esteem or elevation, suggesting the hand that holds authority. The modern form keeps the hand at the bottom.
The hand 手 at the bottom supports the upper structure (⺌, 口, 冖) like a palm holding something important. Picture an open palm upholding a small, precious object, symbolizing the power to rule and conduct matters.
For ショウ, imagine the palm of a showman conducting a performance: show -> ショウ, and his open hand directs everything.
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
(train) conductor
pressing one's hands together in prayer
in the hand; (something) easily manipulated
taking charge; management
(very) short story or article; short short story; conté
division of duties; taking charge of (one's allotted duty); handling one's share of (the work); sharing (duties)
under one's jurisdiction; having jurisdiction
cactus
eight trigrams palm; ba gua zhang; pa kua chang
clasped-hand twist down
join one's hands in prayer; pray with (the palms of) one's hands together
triangular frame of a thatched roof
traditional style of Japanese architecture with a steep thatched roof
one cannot live solely by oneself; one cannot accomplish anything solely by oneself; clapping with one hand is hard
scope of affairs under the jurisdiction
palm
hand print
apple of one's eye
to be obvious; to be obviously correct; to point to one's palm