牲

Originally referred to domestic animals offered in sacrifice, especially oxen, sheep, and pigs used in state or ancestral ceremonies.

By extension, it came to signify a victim offered for a sacred or moral purpose, forming the word 犧牲 (희생) — “sacrifice.”

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

牛 (소 우) — semantic component, meaning “ox” or “cattle,” symbolizing sacrificial animals.

生 (날 생) — phonetic component, giving the pronunciation saeng (생) and implying vitality or life.

The combination suggests “living cattle offered in ritual,” or literally “a living creature dedicated to the spirits.”

犧牲 (희생) — sacrifice; to sacrifice oneself or something valuable

牲畜 (생축) — domestic animals; livestock

牲禮 (생례) — sacrificial ritual using live animals

犠牲者 (희생자) — victim, one who suffers loss for others

祭牲 (제생) — sacrificial offering animal

生牲 (생생) — fresh offering; newly prepared animal for sacrifice

In ancient Chinese ritual tradition, 牲 referred specifically to the animals offered to Heaven (天), Earth (地), and ancestors (祖).

Each ritual used a specific class of animals:

牛 (ox) — for Heaven and supreme deities

羊 (sheep) — for Earth or seasonal ceremonies

豕 (pig) — for household or local ancestral rites

「以三牲獻祭。」

“Offer the three sacrificial animals” — Book of Rites (禮記).

Hence arose the term 三牲 (삼생) — “the three kinds of sacrificial beasts,” representing complete devotion and proper order in ritual life.

In a moral and philosophical sense, 牲 came to signify the act of dedicating life to a higher principle — a symbol of purity, sincerity, and submission before Heaven.

「牲者，純潔之物也。」

“The sacrificial animal is that which is pure and unblemished.”

In the compound 犧牲 (희생), both characters together express the full meaning of sacred offering:

犧 (희) — the holy, devoted aspect of the sacrifice.

牲 (생) — the living being offered up.

Thus, 犧牲 literally means “a living creature devoted as a holy offering.”

Over centuries, the term expanded beyond ritual to embrace moral and emotional sacrifice — giving oneself or one’s possessions for love, duty, or righteousness.

牲 embodies the paradox of life and offering — a living creature given up for a sacred purpose.

It represents both reverence toward Heaven and the moral courage to surrender what is vital for a greater good.

「捨身以成義，是人之牲也。」

“To give up one’s body to fulfill righteousness — that is man’s sacrifice.”

Hence, 牲 is not merely about ritual slaughter; it is a metaphor for selfless devotion, where life itself becomes an offering of sincerity and virtue.