具

Earliest forms: in oracle bone inscriptions (甲骨文) the lower part was not 貝 (cowrie shell), but 鼎 (cauldron), later simplified into 貝.

Seal script (小篆): the lower part shifted from 鼎 to 貝, then in clerical script (隸書) the 八 part of 貝 was simplified to resemble 目, giving the modern form.

Interpretations:

Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字 shuōwén jiězì): “共置也。从廾,从貝省。古以貝爲貨。” — “To place together. From 廾 (two hands holding) and from simplified 貝 (cowrie). In antiquity cowries were currency.”

Duan Yucai’s commentary: 具 is a compound ideogram from 廾 (hands offering) + 貝 (valuables), representing “holding up valuables” - “to provide, to equip.”

Thus, the idea of furnishing, preparing, possessing emerges.

具備 (구비) — to be fully equipped, complete

工具 (공구) — tools, instruments

文具 (문구) — stationery, writing tools

具體 (구체) — concrete, specific

器具 (기구) — utensils, apparatus

Because cowries (貝) symbolized wealth and resources, the act of holding them (廾) became associated with possession and provision.

In compound words, 具 often carries the nuance of completeness or sufficiency (具備, 具足).

In Buddhist texts, 具足 (구족) means “fully endowed,” often referring to moral or spiritual perfections.

俱, 倶, 㖵, 埧, 惧, 椇, 犋, 颶 (飓), 真, 㮂, 䋰, 䡞