筴 (cè) - Rods used in divination & ancient form of tongs or pincers

筴Tone 4

cè ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

筴 · cè

Rods used in divination;

ancient form of tongs or pincers;

also refers to a strategy or plan.

Rods used in divinationancient form of tongs or pincersalso refers to a strategy or plan.

Usage highlights

divining rodsyarrow stalksstrategy or planceremonial rodsbamboo slipsdivination method

Synonyms

  • 策— plan, strategy; also refers to bamboo slips
  • 计— plan, scheme

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The diviner used yarrow stalks (蓍筴) for fortune-telling.
  • Ancient texts mention using divining rods (卜筴).
  • He devised a clever strategy (奇筴) to win the battle.
  • The ritual required specific ceremonial rods (祭筴).

Collocations

  • divining rods(卜筴)
  • yarrow stalks(蓍筴)
  • strategy or plan(奇筴)
  • ceremonial rods(祭筴)
  • bamboo slips(竹筴)
  • divination method(筴法)

Idioms

  • To devise strategies and make plans(运筹画筴)
  • Divining with stalks and tortoise shells(龟筴卜筮)
  • Extraordinary strategies and marvelous plans(神机妙筴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to bamboo slips or stalks used in ancient Chinese divination practices.
  • Later extended to mean strategies or plans, similar to 策.
  • Appears in classical texts describing ritual divination methods.

FAQ