典
- law;
- canon;
- code;
- precedent;
- rule;
Etymology
Ideogrammatic compound:
冊 (책 책) — depicts bound bamboo slips, representing a written record or book.
丌 (책상 기) — depicts a support stand or base, symbolizing something set up formally.
Thus 冊 + 丌 → 典 — literally “book placed on a stand,” representing a formal or authoritative record, hence “canon” or “code.”
In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):
「典，五帝之書也。从丌，从冊。」
“典 means the writings of the Five Emperors; composed of 丌 and 冊.”
In the earliest oracle bone inscriptions (甲骨文), the character shows two hands holding bamboo slips — symbolizing the act of presenting a written document.
In bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen), the two hands merge into a horizontal stroke (一) and downward lines (八), forming the structure later seen in clerical script (隸書).
By the clerical (隸書) and regular (楷書) forms, 冊 simplified in shape to resemble 曲 on top of 丌, producing the modern form 典.
Usage in Korean
經典 (경전) — the classics; sacred or canonical texts
法典 (법전) — code of law
字典 (자전) — dictionary (literally “character canon”)
辭典 (사전) — lexicon; word dictionary
典禮 (전례) — ceremonial rite; formal ritual
典籍 (전적) — ancient books; classical records
典故 (전고) — classical allusion; historical precedent
典範 (전범) — model; exemplary standard
Words that derived from 典
Additional notes
Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典 vol. 137):
「典，常也，法也，書也。」
“典 means constancy, law, or record.”
Book of Documents (書經 · 堯典):
「曰若稽古堯典。」
“Thus we examine the ancient Canon of Yao.”
One of the earliest uses of 典 as a “canonical record.”
In classical contexts, 典 frequently denotes authoritative or established reference works, both sacred (如 《禮典》 “Ritual Canon”) and secular (如 《刑典》 “Penal Code”).
In modern Chinese, 典 appears in both scholarly and administrative vocabulary — dictionaries (字典, 辭典), law codes (法典), and ceremonial contexts (典禮).
In both classical and modern usage, 典 signifies what is formal, codified, and enduring — whether a legal code, a sacred scripture, or a canonical reference work.
