祥

Phono-semantic compound, consists of:

示 (보일 시) — semanti, altar, divine sign, ritual; indicates relation to omens, divine messages

羊 (양 양) — phonetic, provides the sound (sang / xiáng), sheep also symbolizes purity and blessing in ancient Chinese culture

Thus 祥 originally meant “a favorable omen (示) pronounced as 羊.”

In ancient ritual culture:

羊 (sheep) was a common sacrificial animal associated with purity and blessing. 示 indicates divinity or Heaven’s decree.

Together they express Heaven’s blessing or a propitious sign revealed through ritual sacrifice.

祥 has a wide semantic field in classical texts:

- heavenly omens (天祥)

- auspicious phenomena (祥瑞)

- benevolent signs for a ruler

- good fortunes for individuals or states

- peacefulness (祥和)

祥瑞 (상서, 상서로움) — auspicious sign; omen

不祥 (불상) — inauspicious, ill omen; unfortunate

吉祥 (길상) — good fortune; auspiciousness

祥兆 (상조) — sign or omen

祥氣 (상기) — auspicious aura; blessed atmosphere

祥福 (상복) — good blessing

安祥 (안상) — peacefulness; calm blessedness

Cultural vocabulary:

祥月 (상월) — the auspicious month

祥礼 (상례) — originally “mourning rites,” later “ritual propriety” depending on context

祥雲 (상운) — auspicious clouds

祥禽 (상금) — auspicious bird (phoenix, cranes, etc.)

Relation to 吉 and 福:

吉 — auspicious outcome

祥 — auspicious sign

福 — lessing, good fortune bestowed

祥 is specifically about omens and signs perceived as favorable.

Symbolism in Chinese ritual culture:

羊 — beauty (美 originally = 大 + 羊)

羊 — purity

羊 — blessing

羊牲 (sheep sacrifice) offered in petitions for divine favor

Thus 羊 naturally works as the phonetic element for an auspicious character.

Opposites:

不祥 — inauspicious

凶祥 — omens of bad fortune

災祥 — disaster signs (negative omens)

Classical citations:

《詩經·大雅·文王》 (The Book of Songs)

「文王陟降，在帝左右，吉甫作頌，既醉以酒，既飽以德，祈年于天，受其祥。」

“When King Wen ascended and descended the throne, he was by the Emperor's side. Ji Fu composed a hymn, and after being intoxicated with wine and satiated with virtue, he prayed to Heaven for a good harvest and received its blessings” — 祥 = Heaven’s favorable omen.

《左傳·僖公二十三年》 (Zuo Zhuan)

「祥，吉也。」

“Auspice (祥) means good fortune” — a direct classical definition.

《史記·封禪書》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「天降祥瑞。」

“Heaven descended auspicious signs.”

《漢書·禮樂志》 (Book of Han)

「視其祥異，以占吉凶。」

“They observed auspicious or anomalous signs to divine fortune and misfortune.”

𥙿 (ancient form), 𥙷 (rare)