寶

something rare or cherished

Originally an ideogrammic compound, later acquiring a phonetic element.

Composed of:

宀 (집 면) — indicating a house or enclosure; symbolic of protection and containment.

玉 (구슬 옥) — representing precious stones or jade.

貝 (조개 패) — signifying valuables or currency.

The earliest oracle-bone script (甲骨文) forms depict the structure 宀 over 玉 and 貝 — literally, “treasures stored within a house.”

Thus, 寶 originally meant valuables kept under protection, i.e., treasures.

By the bronze inscription (金文) stage, the phonetic element 缶 (장군 부, earthen jar) was sometimes added, producing a phonosemantic variant that evolved into the standard modern form 寶.

This addition likely reinforced the semantic imagery of stored goods or ritual vessels filled with valuables.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字), Xu Shen defines:

「寶，珍也。从宀、玉、貝。」

“寶 means a treasure or something precious; composed of 宀, 玉, and 貝.”

寶 (보) — treasure; precious

寶物 (보물) — treasure; precious thing

珍寶 (진보) — valuables; rare treasures

國寶 (국보) — national treasure

寶石 (보석) — jewel; gemstone

寶玉 (보옥) — precious jade

寶劍 (보검) — treasured sword

寶庫 (보고) — treasury; storehouse

寶塔 (보탑) — pagoda; sacred tower

佛寶 (불보) — the Buddha (as one of the “Three Jewels,” 三寶)

法寶 (법보) — the Dharma

僧寶 (승보) — the Sangha

三寶 (삼보) — “Three Jewels” of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha)

寶座 (보좌) — throne; royal seat

寶印 (보인) — seal of authority

The symbolism of 寶 extends from material wealth to spiritual worth.

In early Chinese usage, it denoted both physical treasures and sacred relics.

The Book of Documents (書經·洪範) speaks of “國之寶” — “the treasures of the state,” referring to virtue, harmony, and wise ministers rather than gold or jade.

In Buddhism, 寶 holds exalted significance: the Three Jewels (三寶) — Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha — are the ultimate treasures of refuge.

Korean Buddhist terminology inherited this directly, with compounds such as 법보, 불보, 승보.

In Confucian texts, 寶 symbolizes cherished virtue or moral excellence, as in:

「德者，人之所寶也。」

“Virtue is what men treasure.” (Liji, 禮記)

The Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典) defines:

「寶，珍愛也。藏之曰寶。」

“寶 means what is cherished; that which is stored is called a treasure.”

Because of its meaning “precious,” 寶 has been widely used in given names, temple titles, and royal seals throughout Korean, Chinese, and Japanese history.

Thus, 寶 unites the material and the transcendent — a treasure both kept and revered, embodying the ideals of preservation, purity, and eternal value.

The character appears in several historical and regional variants:

宝 (U+5B9D) — simplified form (used in Mainland China and Japan).

寳 (U+5BF3) — alternate traditional form (common in Korean personal names).

珤 (U+73E4) — older graphic variant (included in KS X 1001).

靌 (U+974C) — rare variant (KS X 1002).

㻄 (U+3EC4), 寚 (U+5BDA), 𩇉 (U+291C9) — archaic or decorative forms used in seals and inscriptions.

The complex form can sometimes be confused with 實 (실, fruit/reality) in small print, though Japanese simplified (宝) and Chinese simplified (宝) are clearly distinguished.