金 - jīn – gold, or any metal - includes the same basic radicals as 玉 yù, jade, with the addition of a little 'roof' or 'cover,' and two drops. This would preserve the notion of something precious and beautiful that is hidden, and appears in small quantities. Dr. Wieger writes: "According to chinese geology, the metals are born from the earth," hence 土 tǔ forms the base of the character, while, jí -亼, meaning to ‘gather three sides, or to assemble’ provides the uppermost horizontal stroke and small two-stroked hood or 'cover'.
Another possible interpretation is that the original character was composed of 土 tǔ earth, with four nuggets of gold, and two of the nuggets fused to form the uppermost horizontal stroke. The character is capped by a ‘cover,’ indicating that the whole is concealed under the earth.
Jīn can also mean money, gongs, gold, silver or other treasures, or a surname. Some compound words include: jingangshi, diamond; jingui, tortoise (valued in chinese medicine for its shell's ability to nourish back Essence in human beings); jinhuang, golden (note the use of 'huang,' our previously studied character for 'yellow'); jinju, kumquat; jinqianbao, leopard; jinsique, canary; jinxing, venus; jinyinhua, honeysuckle (another commonly used chinese medical herb, literally meaning gold-and-silver flower, and one which contains a secret nectar inside).
Comments