尚

Fundamentally expresses continuation or persistence, meaning “still, yet, even now” — as in “He still remains” (尙存) or “It is still possible” (尙可).

By extension, it came to mean “to esteem” or “to honor”, giving rise to words such as 숭상하다 (崇尙, to revere) or 상류 (上流, noble, refined).

Thus, the character carries both temporal (still, yet) and moral (to honor, value) dimensions.

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

八 (여덟 팔) — originally depicting an opening or division, here serving as part of the upper radical.

向 (향할 향) — phonetic component, giving the sound sang (상) and implying direction, orientation, or aspiration.

Together, 尙 conveys the idea of “to go toward with respect” or “to look upward to” — both physically (“to rise toward”) and morally (“to revere, to esteem”).

尙可 (상가) — still possible; acceptable

尙未 (상미) — not yet; still not

尙存 (상존) — still exists; remains

尙早 (상조) — still early; premature

崇尙 (숭상) — to revere; to uphold; to venerate

尙書 (상서) — ancient Chinese government office (“Secretary” or “Minister”)

尙武 (상무) — valuing martial virtue; military spirit

尙古 (상고) — revering antiquity; valuing the old

尙賢 (상현) — honoring the virtuous or wise

尙友 (상우) — honoring friendship or companionship

尙文 (상문) — valuing culture and scholarship

In classical usage, 尙 expressed both temporal endurance (“still, yet”) and ethical admiration (“to esteem, to look up to”).

It appears frequently in the Analects (論語) and other Confucian writings:

「君子尙德，小人尙利。」

“The noble man values virtue; the petty man values profit” — Analects 4:11

Here, 尙 signifies the act of holding something in high regard, revealing its moral connotation: to elevate what is worthy, whether virtue, wisdom, or tradition.

In Daoist and poetic literature, 尙 also conveys persistence amid change — “still, yet, continuing”:

「雲尙靜而風未起。」

“The clouds are still, and the wind has not yet begun to move.”

Thus, 尙 bridges motion and stillness, expressing both the reverent and the enduring.

尙 symbolizes aspiration, endurance, and reverence.

It represents the human impulse to look upward — to seek higher virtue, greater refinement, or lasting truth.

The form 向 (“to face toward”) beneath 八 (“opening”) can be read as “to look up through an opening toward the heavens”, embodying the spirit of respectful ascent — moral and intellectual striving.

「尙者，仰也。」

“To ‘尙’ is to look upward” — Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字).

尙 teaches the virtue of continuing upwardness — to remain steadfast in esteem and aspiration even amid impermanence.

It unites humility and nobility: the act of still reaching higher, yet always with reverence.

「尙志而不倦，則德自高。」

“He who upholds his purpose without weariness — his virtue rises naturally.”

Thus, 尙 stands as the character of honor, persistence, and veneration — the quiet yet enduring motion of the heart that ever looks upward.

尙 and 尚 are essentially the same character, differing only by form:

尙 — the traditional Korean standard form (used in North and South Korea).

尚 — the simplified and now standard Chinese and Japanese form.

In historical lexicons such as the Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典), 尙 was treated as the orthodox, while 尚 was considered a simplified or derived form.

However, modern Chinese adopted 尚 as the main character, and 尙 is now primarily used in Korean orthography and classical texts.

尙’s upper part visually resembles the radical component seen in many related characters — 常, 賞, 嘗, 堂, 黨, 當, etc. — all carrying meanings of value, propriety, or elevation.

These share the phonetic influence of 상 / 당 and often reflect moral or hierarchical ideals in Confucian culture.