殳
surname Shu; ancient staff-like weapon made of bamboo or wood; "weapon" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 79), occurring in 段, 毅, 殺 etc
Closest English meanings
spear·ancient weapon
The Calligrapher — Zhào Gòu 赵构
Southern Song emperor and prolific patron of running-script calligraphy.
Song calligrapher (1107–1187), master of regular script/running script — known for 《草书洛神赋》. Song dynasty
Cultural Story
殳 was an ancient weapon, a blunt pole or staff borne by foot soldiers before the age of sharp steel. The Shuowen reads it as a handheld implement of war, and 执殳 meant to hold a spear in service of the state. The 戈殳 together named the dagger-axe and spear, the basic arms of the early Chinese infantry, and 殳书 was script carved on such weapons.
Common words & phrases
- 戈殳 dagger-axe and spear
- 殳书 ancient script on spears
- 执殳 hold a spear
Read the story behind the character
Modern readers meet 殳 mostly in history and etymology: a museum labels the 戈殳 dagger-axe and spear, a scholar explains 殳书 the script on ancient weapons, and a poem recalls a warrior who 执殳 held his spear for the king. Though no one fights with a 殳 today, the character survives in the radicals of many words and in the study of how China's first soldiers stood and fought.
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