晉

Derived from the traditional form 晉, which is itself a phono-semantic compound composed of:

日 (날 일) — semantic component, representing the sun, brightness, or illumination.

臸 (이를 진) — phonetic component, providing the sound jin and the meaning to reach, to approach.

Together, they signify “the sun reaching upward,” or “progress toward brightness,” expressing the idea of advancement or ascent.

According to Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「晉，進也。从日臸聲。」

“晉 means to advance; composed of 日 (‘sun’) and phonetic 臸.”

The simplified form 晋 (U+664B) is derived directly from 晉 through the omission of internal strokes in the component 臸, retaining its original pronunciation and meaning.

晉升 (진승) — promotion; advancement

晉級 (진급) — to rise in rank or class

晉見 (진견) — to have an audience with (a superior)

晉封 (진봉) — to confer a higher noble title

晉朝 (진조) — the Jin Dynasty (266–420 CE)

西晉 (서진) — Western Jin Dynasty (266–316 CE)

東晉 (동진) — Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE)

晉國 (진국) — the ancient State of Jin (Spring and Autumn period)

晉人 (진인) — person of Jin; subject of Jin

晋 / 晉 embodies the principle of advancement through illumination — the idea that as the sun ascends in the sky, so does virtue, status, or achievement rise through diligence and integrity.

In classical moral philosophy, 晉 symbolizes self-improvement and elevation of spirit.

To “advance” (進) and to “ascend” (晉) share a common conceptual field: both represent upward movement, yet 晉 carries a connotation of refinement — progress with dignity and enlightenment.

「日升而晉，德進而明。」

“As the sun ascends, so virtue advances and becomes bright.”

In Confucian ethics, 晉德 (진덕) means “to advance in virtue,” expressing continual self-cultivation and progress toward moral perfection.

Historical background:

Originally describing rising, proceeding, or ascending, it later came to denote the State and Dynasties of Jin, symbolic of political unification and moral progress.

The State of Jin (晉國 / 晋国) was one of the major powers during China’s Spring and Autumn period (春秋時代), located in present-day Shanxi Province (山西省).

Founded by Tang Shuyu (唐叔虞), a son of King Wu of Zhou (周武王), it became a center of feudal strength and political reform.

During the Warring States period, Jin was divided among three successor states — Han (韓), Zhao (趙), and Wei (魏) — collectively known as the Three Jin (三晉).

Later, the Jin Dynasty (晉朝 / 晋朝, 266–420 CE) was established by Sima Yan (司馬炎), who ended the chaos of the Three Kingdoms period and unified China under the name Jin.

The dynasty is divided into two periods:

Western Jin (西晉, 266–316) — unified but short-lived due to internal strife;

Eastern Jin (東晉, 317–420) — based in Jiankang (modern Nanjing), continuing southern Chinese culture and governance.

The Jin era profoundly influenced Chinese history, marking the transition from classical antiquity to the medieval imperial age.

晉 (U+2F8CD, a graphic variant found in calligraphy and older manuscripts)

The simplified form 晋 has been officially adopted in modern Chinese (Mainland China, Singapore), while 晉 remains standard in Korean, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese contexts (Taiwan, Hong Kong).

In Korean orthography, the standard form used in classical and academic writing is 晉, and 晋 is recognized as a 속자 (simplified form) used in Japanese Shinjitai and modern Chinese scripts.