yì
justice
Adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 義. Phonosemantic compound. 羊 represents the meaning and 我 represents the sound. In ancient China sheep (羊) were associated with goodness and beauty, which is why 羊 is a component in characters like 美 (beautiful), 善 (benevolent), and 義 (justice).
Components
羊 Meaning Simplified component
yáng
sheep
Evolution
![义 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC) 义 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%BE%A9_0.png)
Oracle script
(~1250-1000 BC)![义 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC) 义 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%BE%A9_1.png)
Bronze script
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)![义 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD) 义 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%BE%A9_13.png)
Seal script
Shuowen (~100 AD)![义 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD) 义 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%BE%A9_20.png)
Clerical script
Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)Traditional script
ModernSimplified script
ModernDefinitions