疆

The modern form 疆 is a phono-semantic compound:

土 (earth; soil) — semantic component, indicates land or territory;

彊 — phonetic element, supplies pronunciation "gang."

So 疆 literally suggests "land + strong boundary" or "firmly defined territory."

Earlier forms were ideographic:

畕 (U+7555)

Two 田 (“field”) characters combined.

Represents adjacent fields.

Then evolved into:

畺 (U+757A)

Three horizontal boundary lines added across the fields.

Expresses “divided land” or “marked boundary.”

Thus 畺 visually represents fields separated by clear boundary lines.

Semantic development:

- agricultural field boundary;

- territorial border;

- political frontier;

- abstract limit or extent.

국경 (國疆) — national border

강역 (疆域) — territory

변강 (邊疆) — frontier region

무강 (無疆) — without limit; boundless

疆 emphasizes:

- clear territorial demarcation;

- structural boundary;

- firmness of division.

Related characters:

界 — boundary (abstract dividing line)

境 — territory; environment

域 — region; domain

邊 — edge; side

彊 — strong

畺 — ancient boundary form

Among these, 疆 most clearly conveys land divided by strong, fixed boundaries.

Classical usage:

開疆拓土 — “To open frontiers and expand land.”

萬壽無疆 — “May longevity know no bounds.”

守土保疆 — “Defend the land and protect the borders.”

畕 (U+7555), 畺 (U+757A), 彊