<p>Edit: (After watching the episode of 字裡尋根 that explained the origin of 父 and 斧, I completely changed my answer)</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qnMOO.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qnMOO.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>父 is a symbol of a hand holding a tool/weapon. (to protect and provide is the father's duty)</p>
<p><em>It is the phonic component of the character 斧 (axe); 斤 was a shape of the knife, adding the phonic component 父 made the character 斧.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pq6DG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pq6DG.png" alt="父" /></a></p>
<p>In ancient time,  the father of the family was the one handling tool/weapon, and this tool/weapon is most likely an axe.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-27T22:28:01.543Z
Is this axe or rod or stick ? Can you visualise that old instrument? Are the two sides hands? Or it was part of instrument?
user27485
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T00:39:39.697Z
I thought the axe's head and the handle is clearly illustrated
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T06:19:21.767Z
A visualization could help.  We'd probably expect something more like a `Γ` ([capital Gamma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma) from the Greek alphabet), but instead it looks more like a `T` ([capital T](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T) from the English alphabet).  Perhaps it's like [the one in this picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%A4%8F%E6%A1%80%E5%83%8F.png)?  Though a lot of us may've been looking for an axe more like [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_axe_labelled-2edit.svg).
Nat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-28T06:51:07.590Z
@Nat Indeed. Wood-cutting axes are [斤](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=134); battle-axes are [戌](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=383) or [戉](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=5462). 父 being an axe lacks paleographic evidence; although a rather well-known scholar once made this argument, it isn't an orthodox POV in the field.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-27T16:27:59.110Z
2021-03-03T09:34:11.790Z
2021-03-03T09:34:11.790Z
Tang Ho
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">時期<br>字體</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">字形</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">參考資料</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="noreferrer">甲</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/x7s1G.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/x7s1G.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">乙</a>405<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=19941&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集19941</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">商<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="noreferrer">金</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PutHU.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PutHU.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">父癸方鼎<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=1275&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成1275</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="noreferrer">西周</a><br>金</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Xx1qb.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Xx1qb.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">父辛簋<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=3060&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成3060</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period" rel="noreferrer">春秋</a><br>金</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6PMgJ.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6PMgJ.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">魯大宰父<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=3987&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成3987</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period" rel="noreferrer">戰國</a>・<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_(state)" rel="noreferrer">楚</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips" rel="noreferrer">簡</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Ggy8P.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ggy8P.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">126<br><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%8C%85%E5%B1%B1%E6%A5%9A%E7%B0%A1" rel="noreferrer">包山竹簡</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Western_Han" rel="noreferrer">西漢</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script" rel="noreferrer">隸</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0FaQa.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0FaQa.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">86<br>定縣竹簡</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han" rel="noreferrer">東漢</a><br>隸</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kUA5J.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kUA5J.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">北海相景君</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script" rel="noreferrer">楷</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/J0WLR.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/J0WLR.png" alt="父" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>「父」 (<em>father</em>) depicts a <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20" rel="noreferrer"><em>hand</em> 「又」</a> holding a <em>rod</em>, likely as a symbol of the household disciplinarian, which is traditionally the <em>father</em>.</p>
<p>The shape 「父」 is connected to the shapes <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=31257" rel="noreferrer">「攴・攵」</a> and <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/39055/how-does-%E6%AE%B3-resemble-a-hand-holding-a-tool">「殳」</a>, both pictures of a <em>hand</em> holding a <em>hitting implement</em>, and both meaning <em>to hit, strike</em>.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>References:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>何琳儀《戰國古文字典：戰國文字聲系》</li>
<li><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian" rel="noreferrer">小學堂字形演變</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/" rel="noreferrer">國學大師</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/" rel="noreferrer">郭沫若《甲骨文合集》</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/" rel="noreferrer">中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-27T19:34:42.847Z
2021-02-27T19:40:07.237Z
2021-02-27T19:40:07.237Z
dROOOze
<p>I am trying to visualise this image for 父. What exactly is this image ?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/brMQQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/brMQQ.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<glyph-origin>
What is this glyph image for 父 representing?
# What is this glyph image for 父 representing?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-27)

I am trying to visualise this image for 父. What exactly is this image ?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/brMQQ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/brMQQ.png)

**Tags:** glyph-origin


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-02-27. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

| 時期 字體 | 字形 | 參考資料 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [商](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty) [甲](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script) | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/x7s1G.png) | [乙](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)405 [合集19941](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=19941&jgwfl=) |
| 商 [金](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions) | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/PutHU.png) | 父癸方鼎 [集成1275](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=1275&jgwfl=) |
| [西周](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou) 金 | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/Xx1qb.png) | 父辛簋 [集成3060](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=3060&jgwfl=) |
| [春秋](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period) 金 | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/6PMgJ.png) | 魯大宰父 [集成3987](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=3987&jgwfl=) |
| [戰國](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period)・[楚](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_(state)) [簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips) | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/Ggy8P.png) | 126 [包山竹簡](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%8C%85%E5%B1%B1%E6%A5%9A%E7%B0%A1) |
| [西漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Western_Han) [隸](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script) | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/0FaQa.png) | 86 定縣竹簡 |
| [東漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han) 隸 | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/kUA5J.png) | 北海相景君 |
| [楷](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script) | [父](https://i.sstatic.net/J0WLR.png) |  |

「父」 (*father*) depicts a [*hand* 「又」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20) holding a *rod*, likely as a symbol of the household disciplinarian, which is traditionally the *father*.

The shape 「父」 is connected to the shapes [「攴・攵」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=31257) and [「殳」](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/39055/how-does-%E6%AE%B3-resemble-a-hand-holding-a-tool), both pictures of a *hand* holding a *hitting implement*, and both meaning *to hit, strike*.

---

**References:**

* 何琳儀《戰國古文字典：戰國文字聲系》
* [小學堂字形演變](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian)
* [國學大師](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/)
  + [郭沫若《甲骨文合集》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/)
  + [中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/)


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-02-27. Score: 1

Edit: (After watching the episode of 字裡尋根 that explained the origin of 父 and 斧, I completely changed my answer)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qnMOO.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/qnMOO.jpg)

父 is a symbol of a hand holding a tool/weapon. (to protect and provide is the father's duty)

*It is the phonic component of the character 斧 (axe); 斤 was a shape of the knife, adding the phonic component 父 made the character 斧.*

[![父](https://i.sstatic.net/pq6DG.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/pq6DG.png)

In ancient time, the father of the family was the one handling tool/weapon, and this tool/weapon is most likely an axe.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is this axe or rod or stick ? Can you visualise that old instrument? Are the two sides hands? Or it was part of instrument?  
> **username_1**: I thought the axe's head and the handle is clearly illustrated  
> **username_2**: A visualization could help.  We'd probably expect something more like a `Γ` ([capital Gamma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma) from the Greek alphabet), but instead it looks more like a `T` ([capital T](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T) from the English alphabet).  Perhaps it's like [the one in this picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%A4%8F%E6%A1%80%E5%83%8F.png)?  Though a lot of us may've been looking for an axe more like [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_axe_labelled-2edit.svg).  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Indeed. Wood-cutting axes are [斤](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=134); battle-axes are [戌](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=383) or [戉](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=5462). 父 being an axe lacks paleographic evidence; although a rather well-known scholar once made this argument, it isn't an orthodox POV in the field.  

---

