星

Evolved from an earlier complex form 曐 (U+66D0), composed of:

晶 (맑을 정) — representing many shining lights,

生 (날 생) — meaning to be born or to arise.

The combination portrays stars being born in the clear sky, hence a composite pictograph and phono-semantic compound:

Semantic interpretation: “Luminous entities arising in the heavens.”

Phonetic correlation: 晶 (jing) and 生 (sheng) share close ancient phonetic affinity with 星 (xīng).

Over time, simplification condensed the three suns (晶) into one (日), merging with 生 to yield the current form 星.

星星 (성성) — stars, starlight

明星 (명성) — bright star; Venus; also “famous person”

星辰 (성신) — stars and celestial bodies

星座 (성좌) — constellation

行星 (행성) — planet (“wandering star”)

衛星 (위성) — satellite (“accompanying star”)

流星 (유성) — meteor, shooting star

星光 (성광) — starlight

星宿 (성수) — constellation; stellar mansion (astronomical system)

In ancient cosmology, 星 symbolized the manifest order of Heaven (天) — the visible expression of the celestial will.

觀乎天文，以察時變；觀乎人文，以化成天下。

“Observe the celestial patterns (天文) to discern temporal changes; observe human culture to transform the world” — Book of Changes (易經 · 繫辭傳).

Here, 星 embodies the rhythm of cosmic time, guiding human life and ritual through its steady course.

In literature, 星 often evokes purity, constancy, and hope in darkness.

孤星之明，不倚日月而自耀。

“A lone star shines by its own light, needing neither sun nor moon.”

This moral metaphor equates the virtuous person with a steadfast star — independent, enduring, and bright amidst obscurity.

In Neo-Confucian thought, 星 (like 日, 月) represents li (理) — the ordering principle of the universe.

Each star manifests one aspect of Heaven’s pattern, forming a microcosm of cosmic harmony.

星列而不亂，象乎德之有序。

“The stars are arrayed without confusion, mirroring the order of virtue.”