稷篆隶jì
【析形】形声字。古文字形从禾,畟声。从禾,表示与农作物有关。
【释义】《说文》:“也,五谷之长。”本义是一种食用作物,即今天的小米,北方称为“谷子”。稷适应风雨不时的干旱气候,在农业生产水平低下的古代中原地区,在相当长的历史时期中是最重要的粮食,故稷被奉为五谷之长。社、稷常并举,社是土地神,稷是谷神。土地与粮食是农业社会的根基,故古代又以[社稷]代表国家。
【shape analysis】It is the pictophonetic character. In ancient character it is related to禾(hé, grain)and sounds like 畟(cè) .
【original meaning】 A crop, in the north it is called millet. 稷(jì, a crop)grows in the arid climate without wind and rain. It was the most important food in the Central Plains of ancient times. Therefore, it was regarded as the master of grain. 社(shè,society) and稷(jì,a crop) are often simultaneously used. 社(shè,society) is the God of land and稷(jì,a crop) is the God of Ceres. Agricultural land and food are the foundation of society, so社稷(shèjì,country) means the country.