旌

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

㫃 (to flutter, to wave) — semantic component

Indicates something that moves or flutters in the wind, especially cloth or banners.

生 (to be born) — phonetic component

Supplies the sound "jeong" and contributes a sense of vitality.

Together, the character depicts a living, fluttering banner, visually and conceptually associated with movement and display.

旌 is not used in everyday Korean for “flag”; the native word 깃발 or the Hanja 旗 is preferred. It appears mainly in literary, historical, and ceremonial contexts.

Classical compounds:

旌表 (정표) — to commend publicly; to honor with a banner

旌門 (정문) — a gate marked with an honorific banner

旌義 (정의) — to honor righteousness

旌 carries a strong moral and Confucian nuance, tied to public virtue and recognition.

旌 vs 旗:

旗 — general, everyday flag (military, national, decorative)

旌 — ceremonial, symbolic, honorific banner

Related characters:

旗 — flag; banner (general use)

表 — to display; to commend

門 — gate (site of honor display)

義 — righteousness; moral duty

忠 — loyalty

Among these, 旌 combines physical display with moral commendation, bridging material symbol and ethical judgment.

Historical & cultural background:

旌 originally referred not to ordinary flags, but specifically to banners decorated with bird feathers. These were used in ritual, ceremonial, and honorific contexts.

In traditional East Asian societies, such banners were hung at gates or entrances to publicly commemorate individuals who embodied Confucian virtues, such as:

- filial piety (孝)

- chastity and fidelity (烈女)

- loyalty and moral integrity

This practice is preserved in the expression:

정문표려 (旌表門閭) — “to honor someone by displaying a banner at the gate”

Thus, 旌 functioned less as a military or national symbol and more as a moral marker visible to the community.