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道光 (Dào guāng) — the Daoguang Emperor or his reign period (1821–1850) of the Qing dynasty

Definition

Dào Guāng is both the reign-title of the Qing emperor (r. 1821–1850) and the era name used to date events, artifacts, and documents from that period — during which the First Opium War broke out.

noun
the Daoguang Emperor or his reign period (1821–1850) of the Qing dynasty

Examples

  • 道光。
    Dào guāng Huáng dì zài wèi qī jiān fā shēng le yā piàn zhàn zhēng.
    The Opium War occurred during the reign of the Daoguang Emperor.
  • 道光。
    Zhè běn shū jì lù le Dào guāng nián jiān de shè huì biàn qiān.
    This book records the social changes during the Daoguang period.
  • 道光。
    Dào guāng Shí qī de cí qì zài pāi mài huì shàng hěn shòu huān yíng.
    Porcelain from the Daoguang period is very popular at auctions.

Origin

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

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

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →
Appears in
History

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