世

By extension, it can mean a thirty-year period (a traditional reckoning of a generation’s length).

There are two main scholarly views on the origin of 世:

1️. Leaf interpretation:

Some scholars see 世 as a pictograph of leaves attached to branches.

From this, the cycle of old leaves falling and new leaves sprouting symbolized generational change, giving the meaning “generation.”

This also explains why 葉 (leaf) contains 世.

2️. Numeric interpretation:

Others argue 世 is a numerical ideograph meaning “thirty” (卅).

It shows three 十 (ten) stacked, representing 30 years = one generation.

This theory is supported by the fact that 世 is rarely found meaning “leaf” in ancient texts.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (당태종)’s personal name was 이세민 (李世民).

The character 世 became taboo; many words and names replaced 世 with 代 (similar meaning). After Tang’s fall, 世 returned to normal usage.

Because the taboo created widespread confusion, later monarchs chose obscure characters (僻字) for their names to avoid such disruptions — though some still caused conflicts.

There was once debate in Korean genealogy about how 世 and 代 should be counted:

- Some claimed 代 counts ancestors while 世 counts descendants;

- Others proposed 代 excluded the self, while 世 included it.

These distinctions are largely abandoned today.