上

Early forms show a long horizontal line (一, the ground) with a shorter stroke or dot placed above it, denoting “that which is higher.”

Over time, the form standardized into 上. It is the natural counterpart of 下 (“below”).

Semantic range:

- above, on top of (위, 상단);

- to rise, to go up, to ascend (오르다, 올라가다);

- superior, higher in status, earlier in order (우위, 상급, 상위);

- beginning, former, previous (처음, 지난);

- used as a prefix in compounds (上級, 上等);

上下 (상하) — up and down; superior and subordinate

上品 (상품) — superior quality

上手 (상수) — skillful person

上京 (상경) — going to the capital

上帝 (상제) — God, the Supreme Deity

以上 (이상) — above, over; “that is all”

上善若水 (상선약수) — “The highest goodness is like water” (Dao De Jing)

In Confucian thought, 上 often denotes the ruler, authority, or the morally superior position, contrasted with 下, the people or subordinates. The phrase 上下有序 (“there is order between above and below”) reflects the Confucian vision of a well-ordered hierarchy.

In Daoism, 上 is ambivalent—while “high” status can imply honor, Laozi often stresses that the truly great (上善) resembles water, which seeks the lowest places. Thus Daoist wisdom often subverts the ordinary preference for “above.”

上 resonates with the Christian image of God as the Most High (Psalm 57:2) and Heaven as “above.” Christ’s ascension (升天) is central to Christian faith, symbolizing exaltation after humility. Yet in Christian paradox, true exaltation (上) comes only through humility (下): “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Thus 上 and 下 together embody the rhythm of descent and ascent in Christian theology.