委質
Chinese
give up; indeed; to commission give up; indeed; to commission; crooked | hostage; substance; nature hostage; substance; nature; quality | ||
---|---|---|---|
trad. (委質) | 委 | 質 | |
simp. (委质) | 委 | 质 |
Etymology
Yang (1965) accepts the interpretation of 質 (OC *tids, *tjid) as alternative of 贄 (OC *tjibs, “ceremonial gift”). Between peers, the gifts were meant to be ceremonially returned. Unlike that, the complete entrustment of the gifts – 委 (OC *qrolʔ) – signified the loyalty and obligations of the homage-payer, and their material acceptance was an expression of superiority.
Pronunciation
Verb
委質
- (literary) to pledge one's loyalty; to swear allegiance; to pay homage (as subject or disciple)
- 臣委質于狄之鼓,未委質于晉之鼓也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: Guoyu, circa 4th century BCE
- Chén wěizhì yú Dí zhī Gǔ, wèi wěizhì yú Jìn zhī Gǔ yě. [Pinyin]
- This vanquished man swore allegiance to (the land of) Gu of Di but never did so to Gu of Jin.
臣委质于狄之鼓,未委质于晋之鼓也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- 孔子設禮稍誘子路,子路後儒服委質,因門人請爲弟子。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
- Kǒngzǐ shè lǐ shāo yòu Zǐlù, Zǐlù hòu rúfú wěizhì, yīn ménrén qǐng wéi dìzǐ. [Pinyin]
- Confucius exhibited some of the proper ceremonies to Zilu to whet his appetite in the Confucian way. Afterwards, Zilu donned the clothing of a scholar, pledged his loyalty, and requested admission as a disciple via the students.
孔子设礼稍诱子路,子路后儒服委质,因门人请为弟子。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]