敕 (chì) — imperial edict (bound form)

Definition

敕 (chì) is a bound-form classical word meaning 'imperial edict' — it is never used alone, but only as part of compounds like 敕令, 敕书, 敕封 (all meaning an official order from the emperor).

bound form
imperial edict (bound form)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 敕，。
    Huáng dì bān bù le yí dào chì lìng, yāo qiú gè dì jiàng dī fù shuì.
    The emperor issued an imperial order requiring tax reductions across the land.
  • 敕。
    Zhè dào chì shū shì míng dài huáng dì qīn zì xiě de.
    This imperial edict was personally written by a Ming dynasty emperor.
  • 敕。
    Lì shǐ xué jiā zài yán jiū táng dài de chì fēng zhì dù.
    Historians are studying the Tang dynasty system of conferring titles by imperial decree.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 柬柬jiǎn
  • 攴攴pūa stick in hand that represents authority

In 敕, the right part 攴 shows a stick in hand that represents authority. The left part 柬 is unclear, and the evidence connects the character to warning.

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