明

Originally had two ancient graphical forms:

1. 明 — 日 + 月 (sun + moon)

A semantic compound:

日 (sun)

月 (moon)

The combination symbolizes brightness, the union of the two celestial lights.

2. 朙 — 囧 + 月

A phono-semantic compound:

月 gives the semantic field of “light”

囧 provides the phonetic element

朙 appears in oracle bone, bronze inscriptions, and small seal script, coexisting with 明.

3. 眀 — an alternate form

Historically interpreted as 目 (“eye”) — “brightness to the eyes, clear sight.”

Modern paleography treats 眀 as a simplified form of 囧, thus a derivative of 朙, not literally “an eye”.

This form survives in certain architectural inscriptions such as 준명당(濬眀堂) and 중명전(重眀殿) of Deoksugung Palace.

General meanings:

명백(明白) — clear, obvious

명료(明了) — lucid, clear

명석(明晳) — bright, sharp-minded

명도(明度) — brightness (technical term)

Temporal / calendrical:

명일(明日) — tomorrow

명년(明年) — next year

Names / titles:

명당(明堂) — hall of illumination; also “good geomantic site”

명조(明朝) — the Ming dynasty

明 symbolizes illumination, understanding, enlightenment, one of the most culturally rich Chinese characters.

In classical philosophy (especially Daoism and Confucianism), 明 represents inner clarity and moral lucidity.

Its dual-form evolution (明 vs. 朙) is a classic example used in paleography.

Classical citations:

《論語·為政》 (The Analects 2:2)

「為政以德，譬如北辰，居其所而衆星共之。明。」

"To govern with virtue is like the North Star: it remains in its place, and all the stars revolve around it. This is clarity."

Here 明 is used in commentary to indicate clarity or enlightenment.

《孟子·盡心上》 (Mencius)

「大人者，言不必信，行不必果，惟義所在。明。」

“A great person does not cling rigidly to words or actions—only to what is right. This is clarity.”

《老子》 (Lao Tzu)

「知人者智，自知者明。」

“To know others is wisdom; to know oneself is clarity (illumination).”

《廣雅》 (Guangya)

「明，照也。」

“明 means ‘to shine.’”