傷

The character 傷 is generally interpreted as a compound ideograph, though sometimes classed as a phono-semantic compound:

人 (사람 인) — semantic element, denoting “person.”

矢 (화살 시) — graphic element, representing “arrow” or “piercing.”

昜 (볕 양) — phonetic element, providing the sound shāng.

The arrow (矢) striking or penetrating a person (人) conveys the idea of being wounded, and 昜 later contributed the phonetic value as the graph evolved.

Ancient forms confirm this interpretation: early bronze inscriptions clearly depict a human figure pierced by an arrow, making 傷 one of the oldest pictorially motivated characters expressing harm or injury.

負傷 (부상) — to be wounded; a wound

受傷 (수상) — injury, being hurt

外傷 (외상) — external wound

內傷 (내상) — internal injury; emotional trauma

損傷 (손상) — damage, impairment

創傷 (창상) — wound, trauma (esp. deep cut)

悲傷 (비상) — grief, sorrow (lit. “sad wound”)

重傷 (중상) — severe injury

傷心 (상심) — heartbroken; deeply hurt

傷害 (상해) — harm, injure (legal or moral sense)

In Confucian and literary texts, 傷 often transcends the literal wound to denote moral sensitivity or compassion.

It implies a heart “touched” by suffering — one who feels the pain of others.

見其哀而傷之。

“Seeing his sorrow, he was moved to compassion” — Book of Rites (禮記).

Here, 傷 carries the nuance of empathy and moral response, a mark of the humane person (仁者).

In Daoist or Tang poetry, 傷 expresses the fragile beauty of existence — sorrow for the passing of things (物哀).

傷春悲秋，情自難平。

“Moved by spring’s passing, grieved by autumn — the heart cannot be still.”

Thus, 傷 becomes the poetic emotion of transience, bridging grief and beauty.

In historical texts, 傷 is used for both physical wounds in battle and damage to morale or order.

Its counterpart 創 (창) emphasizes cutting or piercing, while 傷 can imply broader harm — including emotional or spiritual injury.