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正统 (zhèng tǒng) — orthodox ideas/traditions that are considered correct and standard; legitimate line of succession, especially in dynastic history

Definition

In Chinese history, 正统 (zhèngtǒng) means 'legitimate/orthodox' — the recognized, authoritative line of ideas, succession, or status (e.g. a dynasty's 正统地位). Often used in historical and cultural writing to judge what counts as the standard tradition.

noun
orthodox ideas/traditions that are considered correct and standardlegitimate line of successionespecially in dynastic history

Examples

  • 正统。
    Rú jiā sī xiǎng bèi shì wéi zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng de zhèng tǒng sī xiǎng.
    Confucian thought is regarded as the orthodox ideology in Chinese history.
  • 正统。
    Tā yán jiū de shì zhōng guó gǔ dài de zhèng tǒng shǐ guān.
    He studies the orthodox historical perspective of ancient China.
  • ，正统。
    Lì shǐ shàng, zhè ge wáng cháo de zhèng tǒng dì wèi yì zhí yǒu zhēng yì.
    In history, the orthodox status of this dynasty has always been controversial.

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zhèngorthodox
统tǒnglineage

正 (orthodox) and 统 (lineage) combine to mean the legitimate line of succession.

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 →
Appears in
History

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