Learn one Chinese Character a day - 行

We have mentioned before while we were learning 从|從, 行 is drawing of a cross junction, as shown by its Oracle Script .

Examine its evolution history will give us a better understanding how 行 is eventually finalised as current form. (image get from http://www.vividict.com)

Learn one Chinese character a day - 行

It is then very clear that 行 originally refers to a cross junction, which is a most important part of a road. Later Chinese ancestors borrowed it to mean walking along the road.

And while an army is marching along the street, they form a straight line. Chinese ancestors then borrowed the same 行 to represent the meaning of a straight line.

To differentiate them during daily conversations, we pronounce it "xínɡ" for its meaning of "walking", and "hánɡ" for its meaning of "straight line".

Both two parts of 行 - 彳 and 亍 are used as Radicals, to adding the meaning of walking or a road path,  to form many more Chinese characters.

Now let us enjoy a Chinese calligraphy with 行 to end our lesson today.

天行健君子以自强不息，
地势坤君子以厚德载物。