尹

Also used as a surname (성씨 윤), one of the oldest and most prominent Korean family names.

Originally denoting “one who manages or directs,” and by extension, “a ruler” or “administrator.”

Originally a pictographic–ideogrammic compound depicting a hand grasping a staff, symbolizing control or governance.

Component analysis:

又 (또 우) — a hand; representing action, grasping, or control.

丿 (삐침 별) — a stroke indicating movement or guidance, sometimes interpreted as a staff or tool.

Thus, 尹 graphically expresses “one who holds authority in hand,” or “to direct with control.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字), Xu Shen defines:

「尹，治也。握事者也。」

“尹 means to govern; one who holds affairs in hand.”

This explanation connects the original pictorial sense of “hand” (又) with the conceptual sense of “administration” (治).

In later dictionary traditions (e.g., Kangxi Zidian 《康熙字典》), 尹 is classified under the radical 尸, but paleographic evidence (from bronze and oracle forms) shows that the upper portion originally represented a bent arm or hand, not a corpse radical — thus confirming the 又-based derivation.

尹 (윤) — to govern; a surname

尹氏 (윤씨) — the Yoon clan or family name

太尹 (태윤) — grand administrator (ancient official title)

令尹 (영윤) — prime minister or chief magistrate (in Chu state during the Warring States period)

尹職 (윤직) — office or duty of governance

尹理 (윤리) — administration, management (archaic sense)

In Korean history, 尹 (Yoon) is a major surname, borne by numerous notable families such as the Papyeong Yoon (坡平尹氏) and Haepyeong Yoon (海平尹氏) clans, tracing their ancestry to early Goryeo and Silla officials.

As a title, 尹 appeared in ancient China and Korea as a designation for regional administrators or ministers.

For example:

京兆尹 (경조윤) — Prefect of the Capital District (Han dynasty official title).

令尹 (영윤) — Chief Minister of the State of Chu, equivalent to Prime Minister.

開封尹 (개봉윤) — Prefect of Kaifeng (Song dynasty).

The Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典) glosses:

「尹，治也，理也。」

“尹 means to govern or to regulate.”

In the Book of Songs (詩經·大雅), 尹 appears in a reverential sense for administrators entrusted with moral and political order:

「尹氏肅恭。」

“The governors (尹) are solemn and reverent.”

Graphically, early bronze inscriptions depict 尹 as a hand-like figure gripping a rod or baton — a clear image of command and supervision.

Over time, the character abstracted into its current linear form, while retaining its symbolic meaning of leadership and control.

In modern Korean, 尹 (윤) survives primarily as a surname, symbolizing authority, order, and nobility — values still associated with its ancient etymology of “holding and governing affairs.”

尹 originated as a depiction of a hand holding a staff, expressing the idea of control and governance.

Evolving from this imagery, it came to mean “to manage, to administer,” and ultimately became a high-ranking title and later a common surname.

Thus, 尹 embodies the essence of leadership grounded in order, standing at the intersection of symbolism, administration, and lineage.