座

Also a classifier for large objects or dignified entities such as statues, buildings, or mountains.

Evolved by adding the 广 (엄호, “house, hall”) radical to 坐 (앉을 좌).

广 — indicates a building, hall, or interior space; semantic component.

坐 — means to sit; phonetic and conceptual component.

Thus 广 + 坐 → 座, expressing “the sitting place (inside a structure).”

This composition can be interpreted as both semantic compound — since it depicts “sitting under a roof” — and phono-semantic compound, because 坐 provides the approximate sound zuò.

廣上有人坐之處曰座。

“A place beneath a roof where one sits is called a seat (座).”

座位 (좌위) — a seat, place to sit

座標 (좌표) — coordinate (geometry)

星座 (성좌) — constellation (“seat of stars”)

講座 (강좌) — lecture seat, academic chair

一座 (일좌) — the whole audience, all those present

御座 (어좌) — the royal throne

佛座 (불좌) — pedestal or seat of a Buddha statue

宝座 (보좌) — throne (lit. “precious seat”)

In Confucian social philosophy, 座 signifies the seat of virtue and authority.

The one who occupies the seat must embody moral rectitude:

正其坐而後言。

“Let one sit upright before speaking” — Book of Rites (禮記).

The act of taking one’s seat (就座) symbolizes assuming one’s proper place in the hierarchy of Heaven, Earth, and society — an ethical metaphor for order and propriety (禮).

In Daoist writings, 座 often evokes meditative stillness — “to be seated within emptiness” (坐忘).

Although the graph differs (坐 vs 座), the concept of seated presence parallels the same imagery:

虛其心，靜其坐。

“Empty the heart, still the seat” — Zhuangzi (莊子).

Here, sitting (座) becomes a metaphor for inner calm and harmony with the Dao.

In East Asian Buddhism, 座 designates the pedestal or base of a statue, such as 佛座 (불좌) or 蓮華座 (연화좌, lotus seat) — symbolizing spiritual elevation and enlightenment.

Each Buddha “takes his seat” (就座) upon awakening, representing realization and stability in wisdom.