藏 reading
Origin of the character
The character 藏 is thought to have originally combined 艹 (grass) with 臧 (good). In ancient times it denoted the act of storing or concealing objects within grass. Oracle-bone and bronze inscriptions show forms resembling the character for a storehouse, carrying the sense of storing away wealth. By the small seal script it took on its present form, settling into the meanings "to conceal" and "to store."
How it is built
藏 = 艹 (grass) + 臧 (good)
藏 combines 艹 and 臧. Here 艹 means grass or plants, while 臧 joins 臣 (subject/minister) and 戈 (halberd) — from the idea of a subject guarding wealth with a halberd, it carries the senses "good," "to favor," and "to store." Thus the character represents the act of safely keeping or hiding something precious within the grass. A similar character is 貯 ("to save"), which carries the sense of gathering and storing wealth.
In its line
Harvest in autumn, store in winter.
Line 6 of 250 in the Thousand Character Classic.
Words with this character
- 藏頭露尾장두노미
Literally "hiding the head while exposing the tail," this means that when only part of the truth is concealed and the rest is shown, one's true intent or real nature ends up being exposed.
- 臥虎藏龍와호장룡
Literally "crouching tiger, hidden dragon," this idiom likens hidden, outstanding talent or abilities not yet brought to light.
After writing
Confucianism emphasizes the attitude of the noble person concealing his virtue and keeping his humility. As in Mencius's phrase "the noble person conceals the vessel within himself and waits for the time to act" (君子藏器於身 待時而動), it teaches that the noble person hides his talent and virtue within himself and awaits the right moment to move. This signifies the wise conduct of not rashly revealing oneself but biding one's time.Confucianism
As you drew each stroke slowly, did a moment from today come to mind?
