伐

Ideogrammatic compound composed of:

人 (사람 인) — representing a person, specifically a warrior or human agent.

戈 (창 과) — representing a halberd, spear, or weapon.

Together, 伐 originally depicted a person wielding a weapon — hence the fundamental meaning “to strike or attack.”

According to Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「伐，擊也。从人戈。」

“伐 means to strike or to attack. Formed from 人 (‘person’) and 戈 (‘weapon’).”

In oracle bone and bronze inscriptions, 伐 appears as a vivid image: the 戈 (spear) is shown piercing or striking through the figure of a human (人) — representing the act of killing or cutting down an enemy.

This original violent image later generalized from execution in battle to punitive expeditions (征伐) and cutting down trees (벌목) — actions involving decisive striking or removal.

征伐 (정벌) — military expedition; to campaign against

討伐 (토벌) — to suppress; to punish (rebellion, crime)

伐木 (벌목) — to cut down trees; lumbering

自伐 (자벌) — to boast; to praise oneself (lit. to “strike oneself”)

攻伐 (공벌) — attack and conquest; military assault

誅伐 (주벌) — to punish and execute; retribution

伐罪 (벌죄) — to punish evil; righteous war

伐善 (벌선) — to flaunt one’s virtue (lit. to “attack goodness”)

The concept of 伐 is central to the political and military vocabulary of classical Chinese.

While it literally denotes striking or cutting down, its broader moral and political sense reflects the legitimacy of punitive warfare (討伐) — war undertaken to restore order or punish wrongdoing.

In Book of Documents (書經·泰誓):

「天命有德，五伐有罪。」

“Heaven grants mandate to the virtuous and commands the punishment of the guilty.”

Here, 伐 signifies righteous retribution, not mere aggression — the execution of justice through war sanctioned by Heaven.

Similarly, in Zuo Zhuan (左傳):

「非義之伐，伐不祥也。」

“A war not fought for righteousness brings misfortune.”

This expresses the Confucian distinction between righteous campaigns (義伐) and unjust aggression (暴伐).

Thus, 伐 came to embody both action and moral responsibility — the necessity of war under the higher order of justice.

In everyday contexts, 伐 also took on gentler meanings such as to fell trees (伐木) or to trim and shape — extending the metaphor of “cutting” to cultivation, correction, and even self-discipline.

Cultural and symbolic meaning:

In early Chinese civilization, 伐 was closely linked with the ideal of the “righteous king” (義王) — one who leads punitive expeditions not for conquest but for moral restoration.

This concept became foundational in the Confucian and Zhou political order, where war was justified only when aligned with Heaven’s moral law (天命).

In poetry and literature, 伐 retains a strong, rhythmic quality — symbolizing determination, justice, and the will to act decisively.

For example, in Book of Songs (詩經·伐木篇):

「伐木丁丁，鳥鳴嚶嚶。」

“The axes strike ding-ding; the birds sing ying-ying.”

Here, 伐木 describes both human labor and the harmonious rhythm of nature and community.

The same poem later gave rise to the idiom 伐木同聲 — “to work in harmony,” a symbol of cooperative effort and fellowship.

In moral philosophy, 伐 embodies both decisive action and ethical restraint — the power to strike, guided by righteousness.

Thus, 伐 stands as a character of strength disciplined by purpose, where the act of cutting down becomes the art of restoring balance.