正统派 (zhèng tǒng pài) — orthodox faction or school (of thought, art, religion, etc.)

Definition

A noun for the traditional, mainstream faction within a religion, art form, or ideology — those who defend established doctrine against reformers. Often used to contrast with newer or more liberal schools.

noun
orthodox faction or school (of thought, art, religion, etc.)

Examples

  • 正统派。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de zhèng tǒng pài zài xuǎn jǔ zhōng huò dé le duō shù xí wèi.
    The orthodox party in this country won a majority of seats in the election.
  • 正统派。
    Fó jiào de zhèng tǒng pài jiān chí chuán tǒng de jiào yì.
    The orthodox school of Buddhism adheres to traditional doctrines.
  • ，正统派。
    Zài yì shù jiè, zhèng tǒng pài wǎng wǎng fǎn duì chuàng xīn.
    In the art world, the orthodox school often opposes innovation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

正统orthodox lineage
正zhèngorthodox统tǒnglineage
偏正Modifier + head
派pàifaction

正统 means orthodox lineage, and 派 names a faction, giving an orthodox faction.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 統; 统 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
充
充chōng統tǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 統 uses 糸 as a meaning part and 充 as a sound part; the simplified 统 is a later shorthand, so this story is about 統, not about 统's parts.

Open 统 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater; river
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂢
𠂢𠂢派pài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

派 is built from 水 (water/river) and 𠂢. 𠂢 gives the sound, and 水 was added later to tell the character apart from the older form.

Open 派 →

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