滅

Phono-semantic compound:

水 (물 수) — semantic component, representing fluid or extinguishing action.

烕 (꺼질 멸) — phonetic component, giving the sound myeol and meaning “to go out, to die out.”

The original form, seen in bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen), depicted water quenching fire, symbolizing extinguishment and disappearance.

The inclusion of the water radical 氵 conveys the image of “pouring water to snuff out a flame,” making 滅 one of the most visually transparent pictorial compounds among Chinese characters.

소멸 (消滅) — extinction, disappearance

멸망 (滅亡) — destruction or collapse of a nation

멸절 (滅絶) — complete annihilation

멸죄 (滅罪) — forgiveness or removal of sin

멸도 (滅度) — Buddhist term for Nirvāṇa (complete quiescence)

In modern Korean, 멸 (滅) is used both in religious-philosophical contexts (as in 멸도, 멸죄) and in secular ones (as in 멸망, 소멸).

It often signifies the end of existence, but also implies release and purification in Buddhist discourse.

In classical Chinese, 滅 described both physical extinguishment (as of a lamp or fire) and metaphysical annihilation (as of a dynasty or passion).

「國將滅，必有妖孽。」

“When a nation is about to perish, omens will surely appear.” — Zuo Zhuan (左傳)

In Buddhist scriptures, 滅 acquired a deeply spiritual meaning:

it denoted cessation of worldly suffering and desire, the state of Nirvāṇa (涅槃, 멸도), literally “extinction (滅) and crossing over (度).”

Thus, from “to extinguish fire,” 滅 evolved into a profound symbol of ultimate peace and liberation.

Cultural & religious notes:

In Buddhism, 滅 represents one of the Four Noble Truths (四聖諦, 사성제):

苦 (suffering)

集 (origination)

滅 (cessation)

道 (the path).

Here, 滅 (멸제, 滅諦) means the cessation of suffering, realized through detachment and enlightenment — the extinguishing of the flame of craving.

Thus, what began as the physical extinction of fire came to signify spiritual transcendence — the quenching of illusion and rebirth.

In Daoist philosophy, 滅 can signify the return to stillness, where existence dissolves into the undifferentiated whole (無).

In Confucian and historical usage, it more concretely denotes the fall of dynasties and institutions — “국가의 멸망(國家之滅).”

Symbolic interpretation:

滅 unites water (purification) and fire (passion) — their meeting brings silence and stillness.

It symbolizes not mere destruction, but release, dissolution, and return to original calm.

「滅而不亡，靜而常存。」

“To be extinguished yet not lost — to rest in stillness and endure.”

In the spiritual sense, 멸 is not an end but a consummation — the extinguishing of turmoil into truth.