15(高) x 20(寬) (cm)
「楓」
方戎切，楓枝弱善搖，故字從風。
- 方戎切: This is an ancient fanqie spelling method used to indicate pronunciation, showing that the sound of 楓 is close to the modern pronunciation fēng.
- 楓枝弱善搖: This means that the branches of the maple tree are relatively slender and pliant, and easily sway in the wind.
- 故字從風: This means that in the formation of the character 楓, the component 風 was used as a phonetic element, while also echoing the tree’s tendency to sway easily.
從本葉作三脊，霜後色丹，謂之丹楓。
- 葉作三脊: the leaf is shaped with three pointed lobes, or can be understood as having a three-lobed form.
- 霜後色丹: after being touched by frost, the leaves turn a cinnabar-red color, that is, a deep or vermilion red.
- 謂之丹楓: therefore, such frost-reddened maple leaves are called “danfeng”, or red autumn maple
漢宮殿中多自植楓木，偁天子所居曰楓宸，蓋自此始。
- 漢宮殿中多自植楓木: In the Han dynasty, maple trees were commonly planted within palace grounds.
- 偁天子所居曰楓宸: Therefore, the residence of the Son of Heaven, that is, the emperor, came to be referred to as “Fengchen”; chen originally means the dwelling place of the emperor.
- 蓋自此始: This means, “this designation probably began from here.”
