祿

Originally a gift granted by the ruler in recognition of service, later generalized to mean official emolument or good fortune.

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

示 (보일 시 / 제사 시) — semantic component, indicating relation to ritual offerings or divine favor.

彔 (새길 록) — phonetic component, providing the sound rok and the notion of recording or allotment.

Thus, 祿 originally denoted a gift or allotment granted through ritual or divine sanction — the portion “recorded” or “granted” by Heaven or the sovereign.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「祿，福也。从示，彔聲。」

“祿 means blessing; composed of 示 (‘divine offering’) and the sound 彔.”

This definition reveals the original idea of 祿 as spiritual reward or Heaven’s grace, not merely worldly pay.

俸祿 (봉록) — official salary, stipend

祿位 (녹위) — official position and pay

福祿壽 (복록수) — happiness, prosperity, and longevity

祿命 (녹명) — Heaven-granted destiny

祿食 (녹식) — one’s livelihood from official service

祿爵 (녹작) — honors and titles with income

封祿 (봉록) — bestowal of reward

祿山 (녹산) — a proper name; also metaphor for ambition (as in 安祿山)

The Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典) explains:

「祿，福也，官之食也。」

“祿 means blessing, and also the food or pay of an official.”

Hence, 祿 bridges both sacred blessing and secular income, implying that true wealth derives from Heaven’s order and rightful service.

In folk religion, 祿神 (the “God of Prosperity”) is one of the Three Star Gods — 福 (Happiness), 祿 (Prosperity), 壽 (Longevity) — collectively called 福祿壽三星.

祿 thus came to represent career success and material abundance, balanced by 福 (happiness) and 壽 (long life).

In Buddhist texts, 祿 may also appear in the sense of recompense or karmic reward, aligning with the broader notion of 福報 (merit-reward).

In the Confucian and bureaucratic context of ancient China, 祿 referred to the state stipend of officials (俸祿, “salary and rank”), symbolizing both material livelihood and Heaven-granted favor.

By extension, it came to signify prosperity, fortune, or divine blessing, often paired with 福 (복) and 壽 (수) as one of the “Three Blessings” (福祿壽).

In Confucian society, 祿 symbolized not mere wealth but righteously earned sustenance — one’s livelihood obtained through duty and virtue.

「君子懷祿以行，懷刑以止。」 (論語·憲問)

“The gentleman acts with his salary in mind and stops with the law in mind” (Analects)

(i.e., he fulfills duty when rightly rewarded, but restrains himself within propriety).

In later dynastic usage, 祿 referred to the structured pay grades of officials — “九品祿秩,” the nine-rank salary system.

Within the Confucian worldview, 祿 embodies the harmony between virtue, service, and reward — the idea that moral duty (義) and rightful position (位) naturally bring sustenance — Heaven’s provision to those who act in accordance with the Way (道).

Thus, 祿 is not mere fortune, but earned blessing: the tangible reflection of integrity rewarded by both state and Heaven.

“He who cultivates virtue will receive his 祿 from Heaven;

he who covets unrightful gain loses both wealth and peace” — 古訓 (Ancient teachings).

祿 is a phono-semantic compound (示 + 彔) meaning “salary, reward, or blessing.”

It originally denoted a Heaven-granted gift or official stipend, later expanding to signify prosperity and good fortune.

From state bureaucracy to spiritual symbolism, 祿 represents the convergence of moral service and divine recompense — the blessing that follows right conduct.