吏

Ideogrammatic or simple indicative character.

Depicts a person holding a ceremonial or administrative tool in hand — symbolizing authority or duty.

The upper part represents a hand holding a staff or writing tool, emblematic of record-keeping or administration.

The lower part is a schematic representation of the body of the official or servant.

According to Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「吏，治人者也。从史持中。」

“吏 — one who governs people; derived from 史, holding a tablet.”

Here 史 (“scribe”) is cited as the model from which 吏 developed. Indeed, 吏, 史, 事, and 使 share a common graphical ancestry related to record-keeping and administrative service.

Thus, 吏 is historically connected to the act of writing or recording official affairs, and later came to signify the person performing that duty — the clerk or minor official.

Semantic evolution:

Early sense: “one who administers or records” — a scribe or civil functionary.

Later sense (Warring States–Han): “government official,” especially minor officer below the level of 官 (guan, high official).

吏員 (리원) — government clerk; subordinate officer

吏曹 (이조) — the Ministry of Personnel (Joseon term for the civil service department)

吏讀 (이두) — idu script; clerical reading system used by officials

吏胥 (리서) — clerks and minor functionaries

吏治 (리지) — government administration; bureaucratic governance

官吏 (관리) — government officials collectively

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 169):

「吏，治民之官也。」

“吏 means an officer who governs the people.”

Book of Documents (書經 · 皋陶謨):

「官師克明，吏民克從。」

“When the officers are upright, the officials and the people will follow.”

Zuo Commentary (左傳 · 僖公二十六年):

「君子不親小吏。」

“A noble man does not keep close company with petty officials” — here 吏 refers to low-ranking bureaucrats.

Han Feizi (韓非子 · 有度篇):

「吏不廉平，則民不畏法。」

“If the officials are not honest and fair, the people will not fear the law.”

These illustrate the semantic range of 吏 as administrator, petty functionary, or enforcer of state order.

Institutional distinction:

官 (관): higher office, often noble or ministerial.

吏 (리): lower office, typically a servant or clerk under official authority.

In the Nine-Rank System (九品官人法), 吏 designated persons below the ninth rank — non-noble bureaucrats.

Extended sense: civil service as a whole (官吏); administrative apparatus.

In Confucian political thought, 吏 symbolized the executive function of government — those who implemented policy rather than formulated it.

In the Han dynasty bureaucracy, 吏 included all non-aristocratic officials appointed for local governance, tax collection, and record keeping.

The phrase “官吏” thus covers both ranks:

官 — those who rule.

吏 — those who serve and execute orders.

In Joseon Korea, 吏 was preserved in terms such as 이조 (吏曹), the Ministry of Personnel responsible for appointment, evaluation, and promotion of officials.

From the ancient scribe who recorded decrees to the civil clerk administering documents, 吏 represents the enduring backbone of state administration — the hand that enacts what authority decrees.