尉

Primarily means “a military or governmental officer”, denoting someone holding rank or authority.

In extended senses, it also carries meanings of soothing, pacifying, or bringing order, derived from its ancient imagery of pressing or smoothing with heat (like ironing cloth).

Compound ideograph — a character formed by combining symbols that express its meaning:

火 (불 화) — fire, representing heat.

寸 (마디 촌) — hand or measurement, symbolizing control or application.

尼 (여승 니) — component representing kneeling or bending, used phonetically and visually.

Together, they depict a person using heat (fire) and the hand (寸) to press or smooth cloth, symbolizing bringing order or subduing disorder — a fitting metaphor for a governing or pacifying role.

尉官 (위관) — officer; commissioned officer

校尉 (교위) — a mid-ranking military officer (ancient Chinese rank)

少尉 (소위) — second lieutenant

中尉 (중위) — first lieutenant

上尉 (상위) — captain (army/navy rank)

尉職 (위직) — an official or military post

尉官候補 (위관후보) — officer candidate

慰尉 (위위) — to comfort and pacify

安尉 (안위) — to console; to calm or stabilize

In ancient China, 尉 was both a title and a functional office.

It originally referred to military officers responsible for enforcing discipline, maintaining order, and ensuring stability.

During the Qin (秦) and Han (漢) dynasties, the rank 校尉 (교위) denoted an officer commanding troops or guarding the capital.

Later, the term extended to various levels of military rank, such as 上尉, 中尉, 少尉, which correspond to modern commissioned officer ranks.

In civil administration, 尉 could also mean a local official responsible for security and law enforcement, somewhat akin to a prefect or constable.

「尉者，主治軍也。」

“The wi (尉) is the one who governs the army” — Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字).

The earliest pictographs showed the idea of pressing or subduing, which evolved metaphorically into “bringing discipline or peace.”

Hence, 尉 became a general term for those who restrain, govern, or pacify — both in military and civil contexts.

尉 symbolizes discipline, restraint, and order — the power to soothe chaos through structured control.

The combination of fire (火) and hand (寸) evokes measured firmness — heat controlled by precision, representing authority guided by balance.

In moral and philosophical terms, 尉 also came to suggest comfort through correction — the act of restoring harmony by firm yet gentle means.

「以火治布，如以德治民。」

“To smooth cloth with fire is like ruling people with virtue.”

Thus, 尉 expresses the idea of controlled energy, firm but benevolent authority, and the art of bringing order through measured action.

尉 teaches that true command lies not in harshness, but in balance — the mastery of strength tempered by care, discipline joined with compassion.

「剛而能柔，威而能安，斯為尉德。」

“To be firm yet gentle, powerful yet calming — that is the virtue of an wi (officer).”

Therefore, 尉 stands as the character of authority through harmony, the ideal of leadership that subdues not by fear, but by restoring order and peace.