僧

僧 is a phono-semantic compound combining:

人 (사람 인) — semantic component, representing a human being or person.

曾 (거듭 증) — phonetic component, providing the sound sēng / seung.

Originally, 僧 was a phonetic transcription of the Sanskrit word “saṃgha (सङ्घ)”, meaning assembly, community, specifically the Buddhist monastic order.

In early Chinese Buddhist translations, this foreign word was variously rendered as 僧伽 (승가), 僧祇 (승기), or simply 僧.

Thus, while 僧 appears to fit the structure of a Chinese compound character, it actually arose through semantic adaptation of a transliteration, later regularized into standard Chinese morphology.

僧侶 (승려) — Buddhist monk

僧院 (승원) — monastery

僧伽 (승가) — the Buddhist community

僧俗 (승속) — monks and laypeople

沙僧 (사승) — “Friar Sand,” a monk character from Journey to the West (西遊記)

In Buddhism, 僧 represents one of the Three Jewels (三寶) — 佛 (Buddha), 法 (Dharma), and 僧 (Saṃgha).

The 僧 are those who preserve and practice the Dharma, serving as spiritual exemplars for lay followers.

Throughout East Asian history, monks (僧) have functioned not only as spiritual practitioners but also as teachers, healers, scribes, and cultural transmitters.

In Korea, China, and Japan, 僧 formed the backbone of Buddhist scholastic and artistic traditions.

The Korean word “승(僧)”, Japanese “そう (僧, sō)”, and Vietnamese “tăng” all derive from this same graph.

Its presence across East Asia reflects the diffusion of Buddhist institutions and vocabulary through Chinese translations of Sanskrit scripture.

In classical paintings and poetry, 僧 often symbolizes detachment, serenity, or the search for enlightenment.

The image of 고승 (高僧, “eminent monk”) appears as a motif of wisdom and moral purity.

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