匭 (guǐ) - Box, chest, casket & especially a petition box used in ancient China

匭Tone 3

guǐ ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

匭 · guǐ

Box, chest, casket;

especially a petition box used in ancient China for submitting memorials or complaints to the emperor.

Box, chest, casketespecially a petition box used in ancient China

Usage highlights

Petition boxSubmit to the boxPetition officePetition systemPetition memorialBox office

Synonyms

  • 匣— small box, casket
  • 箱— chest, box
  • 函— case, envelope

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The emperor established a petition box (匭函) to receive memorials.
  • Ancient governments used suggestion boxes (投匭) for public feedback.
  • The memorial was submitted through the petition system (匭院).
  • He placed his complaint in the imperial box (匭中).

Collocations

  • Petition box(匭函)
  • Submit to the box(投匭)
  • Petition office(匭院)
  • Petition system(匭制)
  • Petition memorial(匭奏)
  • Box office(匭曹)

Idioms

  • Submit petitions through the box(投匭上書)
  • The petition box system(匭函制度)
  • Memorial submitted via petition box(匭院上書)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The 匭 system was established during the Tang Dynasty as a means for officials and commoners to submit petitions directly to the emperor.
  • Different colored boxes were used for different types of submissions: recommendations, criticisms, appeals, and military matters.
  • The system represented an early form of bureaucratic oversight and public feedback mechanism in imperial China.
  • The character's structure reflects its function as an enclosed container for important documents.

FAQ