編

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

糸 (가는실 멱) — semantic component, meaning “thread” or “string,” symbolizing binding, weaving, or connection.

扁 (작을 편) — phonetic component, providing the sound pyeon and connoting “flat, ordered, arranged.”

Together, these elements depict threads arranged evenly or bound together, forming the idea of organization and structure — the essence of weaving and compilation.

編輯 (편집) — editing; compilation

編成 (편성) — organization; formation

編纂 (편찬) — to compile; to edit (especially scholarly works)

短編 (단편) — short story; short work

長編 (장편) — long story; full-length work

詩編 (시편) — collection of poems

影片 (영편) — film; motion picture (literally “image volume”)

篇編 (편편) — book or chapter (archaic usage)

The idea of 編 (to weave) has deep roots in both textile and literary culture.

In early Chinese civilization, weaving was one of the first metaphors for ordering human knowledge.

Just as threads must be interlaced to form a cohesive fabric, words and ideas must be organized to form coherent writing.

Thus, 編 naturally evolved from describing physical weaving to intellectual compilation — weaving together information, texts, or stories.

Ancient scribes who bound bamboo slips into scrolls were said to “編策 (편책),” meaning “to bind books,” and from this, 編 came to signify book, volume, or compiled text.

編 symbolizes the act of connecting and giving structure — whether through hands weaving cloth or minds weaving ideas.

The 糸 (thread) radical represents connection and continuity, and 扁 (flat, orderly) conveys uniformity and arrangement.

Together they embody harmony through structure — order emerging from many interwoven parts.

「編者，理絲以成文也。」

“編 means to arrange threads into pattern.”

Hence, 編 carries the dual sense of craftsmanship and intellect — the unity of hand and mind in the creative process.

編 teaches the beauty of order and interconnection.

Just as fabric gains strength from its woven threads, knowledge gains meaning through structure and unity.

「以絲成衣，以文成道。」

“As threads form cloth, so words form the Way.”

Thus, 編 stands as a character of weaving, compiling, and organizing, reminding us that creativity is not mere invention — it is the art of joining many parts into living wholeness.