徙

A compound ideograph formed from:

彳 — “to walk slowly; step,” indicating movement

步 — “step; pace; walking,” reinforcing the idea of foot-movement

Early forms (oracle bone and bronze inscriptions) depict alternating left and right feet, emphasizing continuous, deliberate movement rather than a single step.

In seal script, the lower foot element became standardized as 止, producing the modern structure.

徙 frequently appears in historical, legal, and demographic contexts.

이사 (移徙) — relocation; moving house

전사 (轉徙) — forced relocation; displacement

유사 (流徙) — wandering migration; exile

徙居 (사거) — to move one’s residence

In Classical Chinese 徙 is commonly used for:

- population transfers

- exile or forced migration

- administrative relocation

Example:

徙民 — to relocate the populace

徙都 — to move the capital

Related characters:

移 — to move; to transfer (general)

遷 — to relocate (official transfer; promotion or demotion)

居 — to reside

步 / 行 — to walk

流 — to drift; to be exiled

搬 — physical carrying of objects

Unlike 搬 or 移, 徙 emphasizes the act of relocation itself, often involving people or households rather than objects.

Classical citations:

Book of Han (漢書)

「徙天下豪富於關中。」

“They relocated the wealthy elites of the realm to the Guanzhong region.”

This reflects 徙 as state-directed population movement, not voluntary travel.

Book of Documents (書經)

「民不安其居，則必徙。」

“When the people cannot remain at ease in their dwellings, they must move.”

Here, 徙 conveys social necessity rather than personal choice.

In Buddhist and medieval Chinese texts, 徙 often describes:

- monastic relocation

- impermanence of dwelling

- movement caused by karmic conditions

Example:

隨業而徙 — “to move in accordance with karma”