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Kotomora

琮

octagonal piece of jade with hole in middle

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • ス

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

琮 refers to a specific ancient ritual object: an octagonal jade piece with a central hole. Its meaning is narrow and concrete, centered on this ceremonial jade artifact.

Study

Etymology

琮 combines 王 (jade) with 宗, which likely provides the sound and may relate to ancestral or ritual contexts, fitting the object's ceremonial use. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 王 (jade) tells you it's a jade object. The right side 宗 suggests a ritual or ancestral hall. Picture an octagonal jade piece with a hole, used in ancient ceremonies.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine a soul (ソウ) of an ancestor passing through the hole in the jade during a ritual: soul -> ソウ.