鄉 (xiāng)

country, village; rural

Etymology

Pictograph of two people facing each other, kneeling down to share a meal. Based on the original meaning "feast" or "offer food", now written as 饗. The meaning later shifted to "hometown".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“鄉,國離邑,民所封鄉也。嗇夫別治,封圻之內六鄉,六鄉治之。从,皀聲。”

Original meaning

feast, offer food

Components