綜

綜 is a phono-semantic compound composed of:

糸 (가는 실 멱) — semantic component, representing threads, weaving, or interconnection.

宗 (마루 종) — phonetic component, providing the sound zòng / jong and implying centrality or organization.

Together, the character depicts threads (糸) brought together under one organizing principle (宗) — literally “to weave and unify.”

Thus, the core sense is to organize strands into order — whether literal (textiles) or abstract (ideas, data, systems).

綜合 (종합) — synthesis; to integrate or combine

總綜 (총종) — to manage or direct comprehensively

綜覽 (종람) — to review, to survey as a whole

綜理 (종리) — to coordinate, to administer

綜要 (종요) — essential summary, main outline

The metaphor of weaving threads mirrors the act of uniting complexity into harmony — a theme that recurs across classical Chinese thought.

「綜理群務」 — To coordinate various affairs.

「綜合百家之說」 — To integrate the teachings of a hundred schools.

Here, 綜 implies comprehensive insight — the ability to see and connect diverse parts into a coherent system.

In governmental or academic contexts, 綜 often appears in words relating to systematic coordination (e.g. 綜合部, “integrated department”), emphasizing order and cohesion.

In traditional weaving terminology, it specifically denotes the heddle (잉아) — the tool that separates warp threads and allows organized weaving — perfectly symbolizing structured integration.

Comparison:

綜 (zòng) — to weave, to integrate (focus on process and unity).

總 (zǒng) — to summarize, to lead, overall (focus on result and authority).

In modern usage, 總合 (総合) is the Japanese equivalent of Chinese 綜合, reflecting the same etymological origin but differing orthographically.