鉉

A phono-semantic compound:

金 (metal) — indicates a metal object

玄 (dark; deep; mysterious) — provides the sound value (hyŏn / xuàn)

Original sense: a metal loop or handle attached to a cauldron, especially ritual bronze vessels.

In Korean usage, it appears mainly in historical or academic writing, especially concerning bronze vessels and ancient rites.

鉉 is rare in everyday language and survives mainly in:

- classical texts

- archaeology

- ritual terminology

Because 鼎 represented state power, components like 鉉 sometimes appeared metaphorically to suggest:

- supporting authority

- the means by which power is handled or transferred

Although rare, this symbolic nuance appears in later commentarial literature.

Closely related characters:

鼎 — tripod cauldron; symbol of state authority

耳 — ear; lug or handle on vessels

釜 — cauldron, cooking pot

鐶 — metal ring, loop

Phonetic relatives:

玄 — dark; profound; mysterious (phonetic base)

弦 — string (of an instrument or bow)

絃 / 纖 — phonetic relatives in sound series

In ancient China, cauldrons (鼎) symbolized political authority and ritual legitimacy. The 鉉 was an essential functional part, allowing the vessel to be lifted during sacrificial rites.

《說文解字》 (Shuowen Jiezi)

「鉉，鼎耳也。」

“鉉 means the handle (ear) of a tripod cauldron.”

This concise definition firmly establishes the original meaning.