參

In extended sense, 參 signifies joining, mingling, consulting, comparing, or being involved — both physically (to join a group) and intellectually (to consult or deliberate).

Originally composed of:

厽 (담쌓을 루) — depicts the form of stars grouped together, symbolizing multiplicity or a constellation.

㐱 (숱 많을 진) — indicates brightness or abundance.

Together, these elements combine into 參, representing many shining points gathered together — a metaphor for joining, mixing, or participating.

In early star-related contexts, 參 also referred to the constellation Orion, known as 삼수(三宿) in classical astronomy, emphasizing the idea of multiple lights assembled in the sky.

Over time, the meaning shifted from a group of stars to joining or taking part, and later extended metaphorically to participation in affairs, deliberation, or combination of elements.

It is also used as a variant of 三 (석 삼), denoting the number three or its ordinal sense.

In modern Chinese orthography, the form 叁 (simplified variant of 參) is often used when writing numerals in financial contexts to avoid forgery.

參加 (참가) — to participate, to attend

參與 (참여) — to take part in, to engage

參見 (참견) — to consult, to confer with, to have an audience

參拜 (참배) — to pay respects (at a temple, shrine)

參照 (참조) — to refer to, to compare with

參考 (참고) — reference, consultation

參戰 (참전) — to take part in war

參政 (참정) — to participate in government

參差 (참차) — uneven, irregular; diverse

參悟 (참오) — to realize through meditation

In Confucian and bureaucratic contexts, 參 often denotes participation in deliberation or advisory roles. Officials with titles such as 參知政事 (참지정사) were those who took part in governance or policy consultation.

「參以三人而無私，則政平。」

“When three men consult together without selfishness, governance is fair” — Records of Governance (政記).

The association with the number three (三) is symbolic: in Chinese cosmology, three often signifies balance and harmony — Heaven (天), Earth (地), and Humanity (人). Thus, 參 carries the spiritual nuance of joining in harmony or mediating among principles.

In Daoist philosophy, 參 sometimes appears in discussions of unity through multiplicity:

「道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬物。」

“The Dao gives birth to One; One gives birth to Two; Two gives birth to Three; and Three gives birth to all things.”

Here, “Three” (三 or 參) symbolizes the interaction of yin, yang, and their harmony — the principle of participation and creation.

In Buddhist texts, 參 may appear in expressions like 參禪 (참선) — “to participate in Zen meditation,” literally to join in contemplation, emphasizing active inquiry into truth through direct experience.

參禪者不在言語，唯在心照。

“Those who participate in Zen do not rely on words, but illuminate the mind itself.”

Across classical thought, 參 represents joining, connecting, and synthesizing — whether among people, ideas, or cosmic principles.

It evokes both the communal act of participation and the cosmic balance of the triad — Heaven, Earth, and Humanity in concert.

三者參通，萬物乃生。

“When the three communicate, all things come into being.”

Thus, 參 is not merely a character of participation; it is a symbol of integration, harmony, and the unity born of multiplicity — the act of becoming part of a greater whole.