480531170

not done also). The original meaning of this
graph was ‘inscription’. ‘Well-known, notable’
is seemingly an extended sense deriving
from the fact that the epitaphs often set out
accomplishments of distinguished individuals
and so had at least an implied laudatory
aspect. In a related semantic extension, it
is now associated with quality brands in
merchandising, to the point that it can be
considered a definite meaning. carries
out the function of a notable/quality named
brand, such as in meibutsu (‘noted
product’) but it seems that , despite taking
longer to write, has taken over that role
to a significant extent. MS1995:v2:1366-7;
OT1968:1043; SS1984:819; GY2008:1260;
KJ1970:870; AS2007:387.
Mnemonic: HAVE ONE’S NAME INSCRIBED IN
METAL – GOOD QUALITY METAL
2017
滅
METSU, horobiru/bosu Seal ; a late graph (Shuowen). Consists
destroy, perish
of /42 ‘water’, combined with 烕 (CO;
L1
13 strokes
‘flames die out’; see Note below) as phonetic
with associated sense ‘run out, can no longer
METSUBŌdestruction
be seen’, giving ‘water runs out’; by extension,
ZETSUMETSU extinction
‘perish, destroy’. Note: 烕 is comprised
HAMETSU destruction
of 8 ‘fire’, with 476 (CO; ‘type of battleax
/ halberd’) as phonetic with associated
sense ‘run out, disappear’, giving ‘flames die
out’. MS1995:v2:774-5,798-9; KJ1970:870;
OT1968:602.
Mnemonic: DESTROYED BY HALBERD, FIRE,
AND WATER
2018
免
MEN, manukareru
escape, avoid
L1
8 strokes
MENJOexemption
MENZEI tax-exempt
HŌMEN acquittal
Bronze ; seal . Analyses diverge. Taken
in one view as consisting of 41 ‘person’,
with (interpreted as ‘female genitalia’ or
‘hindquarters of animal’) as phonetic with
associated sense ‘submit’, giving ‘look down
in submission’ (Katō, Mizukami). This interpretation,
though, seems to be based on
the seal form, and does not sit very well in
relation to the older bronze forms. Another
analysis takes literally as ‘female genitalia’
or ‘buttocks’, combined with ‘person’
to give ‘deliver newborn baby’ (Ogawa, Tōdō;
Shirakawa sees this as one valid interpretation
also), and this proposal is more plausible
in terms of the bronze forms. Yet another
interpretation takes this graph as originally
relating to headwear: Gu sees it as depicting
a person wearing a ritual mourning cap,
while Shirakawa considers ‘remove helmet’
as a meaning for some of the forms identified
as later . ‘Come out’ and ‘avoid’ may be
regarded as extended senses if ‘deliver newborn
baby’ or ‘remove helmet’ is accepted as
the original meaning. A complicating factor
to this graph is what appears to be a degree
of confused usage involving NJK ‘rabbit,
hare’, a graph similar in shape to from the
seal stage onwards (but not earlier); in this
connection, see 1029 also. KJ1970:818-20;
MS1995:v1:94-5; OT1968:89; TA1965:739-41;
GY2008:470,683; SS1984:820-21. We suggest
taking as two boxes, and as a crouching
person and as another person standing
(both escapees).
Mnemonic: TWO ESCAPEES HIDING BEHIND
TWO BOXES TO AVOID RECAPTURE
Or: ESCAPE BY RUNNING LIKE A HARE
The Remaining 1130 Characters 603