<p>as @drooze revealed, it's &quot;孝思維則&quot;</p>
<p>reading from right to left:</p>
<p>孝: <a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%AD%9D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝</a></p>
<p>思: <a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E6%80%9D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思</a></p>
<p>維: <a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E7%B6%AD" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維</a></p>
<p>則: <a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%89%87" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則</a></p>
<p>the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>成王之孚</p>
<p>下土之式</p>
<p>永言孝思</p>
<p>孝思維則</p>
</blockquote>
<p>the ctext.org has a translation:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He secured the confidence due to a king,</p>
<p>And became a pattern of all below him.</p>
<p>Ever thinking how to be filial,</p>
<p>His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-04T05:00:45.960Z
2018-12-04T05:00:45.960Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>The characters are <strong>孝思維則</strong>, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_of_Poetry" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Classic of Poetry</em></a> - <em>Major Court Hymns</em>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，<strong>孝思維則</strong>」</p>
  
  <p>As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:</p>
  
  <p><em>[Man] must forever abide by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_piety" rel="nofollow noreferrer">filial piety</a>, for <strong>filial piety is the moral code [of Man]</em></strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/n59jw.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/n59jw.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>「孝」(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructions_of_Old_Chinese#Baxter%E2%80%93Sagart_(2014)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Baxter-Sagart OC</a>: <strong>/*qʰˤuʔ-s/</strong> > <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Chinese" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Middle Chinese</a>: <strong>/hˠau<sup>H</sup>/</strong>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanqie" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Fanqie</em></a>: <strong>呼敎切</strong>, <em>filial piety</em>) is composed of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: <strong>/*C.rˤuʔ/</strong> > MC: <strong>/lɑu<sup>X</sup>/</strong>, <em>Fanqie</em>: <strong>盧晧切</strong>, <em>old</em>), both a semantic and a phonetic component;</li>
  <li>「子」(<em>child</em>), a semantic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>A1<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="nofollow noreferrer">西周</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">金</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qUNuK.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qUNuK.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>曶鼎<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=2838&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成2838</a></kbd><kbd>A2<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_(state)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">楚</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips" rel="nofollow noreferrer">簡</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tTPGd.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tTPGd.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">郭・語3</a>・61<br>　</kbd><kbd>A3<br><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">篆</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/odkxQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/odkxQ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">說文解字</a><br>　</kbd><kbd>A4<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">秦</a><br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mA9jc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mA9jc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡</a>・<a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">法</a>102<br>　</kbd><kbd>A5<br>現代<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">楷</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VFhFn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VFhFn.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>老</h1>
  
  <p>「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>B1<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AxtSs.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AxtSs.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">乙</a>8896<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=22246&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集22246</a></kbd><kbd>B2<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ybfZv.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ybfZv.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">前</a>2.2.6<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=36416&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集36416</a></kbd><kbd>B3<br>西周<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sUUyX.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sUUyX.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>殳季良父壺<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=9713&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成9713</a></kbd><kbd>B4<br>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OX6Yl.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OX6Yl.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡・雜</a>32<br>　</kbd><kbd>B5<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sukd2.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sukd2.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>子</h1>
  
  <p>「子」depicts a young child.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>C1<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jYgUX.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jYgUX.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a>2903<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=20576&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集20576</a></kbd><kbd>C2<br>楚<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UPwDh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UPwDh.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">包2</a>・66<br>　</kbd><kbd>C3<br>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yJ3QA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yJ3QA.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡・秦</a>62<br>　</kbd><kbd>C4<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Qs4J1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Qs4J1.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YiZ18.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YiZ18.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: <strong>/*[s]ə/</strong> > MC: <strong>/sɨ/</strong>, <em>Fanqie</em>: <strong>息兹切</strong>, <em>to think about / to miss</em>) is composed of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: <strong>/*[s]ə[r]-s/</strong> > MC: <strong>/siɪn<sup>H</sup>/</strong>, <em>Fanqie</em>: <strong>息晉切</strong>), a phonetic component;</li>
  <li>「心」(<em>heart/mind</em>), a semantic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>D1<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period" rel="nofollow noreferrer">戰國</a><br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/9PGSH.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9PGSH.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>五年龏令思<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=11348&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成11348</a></kbd><kbd>D2<br>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/390Ow.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/390Ow.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡・為</a>49<br>　</kbd><kbd>D3<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/WoePB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WoePB.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>心</h1>
  
  <p>「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>E1<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/H1lfh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/H1lfh.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a>3510<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=6&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集6</a></kbd><kbd>E2<br>西周<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qHnlc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qHnlc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>史墻盤<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=10175&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成10175</a></kbd><kbd>E3<br>楚<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/nFbEM.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/nFbEM.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">包2</a>・218<br>　</kbd><kbd>E4<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Vk9d3.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Vk9d3.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>E5<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_Wei" rel="nofollow noreferrer">魏</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">隸</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XBNkI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XBNkI.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>上尊號奏<br>　</kbd><kbd>E6<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1hYCB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1hYCB.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FrFJo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FrFJo.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: <strong>/*ɢʷij/</strong> > MC: <strong>/jiuɪ/</strong>, <em>Fanqie</em>: <strong>以追切</strong>, <em>to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve</em>) is composed of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「糸」(<em>fine silk</em>), a semantic component;</li>
  <li>「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: <strong>/*ɢʷij/</strong>), a phonetic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>/*ɢʷij/</strong> for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from <strong>/*tur/</strong> > <strong>/t͡ɕiuɪ/</strong>, <strong>職追切</strong>.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>F1<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period" rel="nofollow noreferrer">春秋</a><br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JUXQg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JUXQg.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>蔡侯墓殘鐘<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=224&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成224</a></kbd><kbd>F2<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/TetDr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/TetDr.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>F3<br>楚<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YA9FR.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YA9FR.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">曾</a>123<br>　</kbd><kbd>F4<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZjMDJ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZjMDJ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>糸</h1>
  
  <p>「糸」depicts fine silk threads.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>G1<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lZZlT.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lZZlT.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">京津</a>4487<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=28401&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集28401</a></kbd><kbd>G2<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dCyka.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dCyka.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>G3<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lWJhL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lWJhL.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>隹</h1>
  
  <p>「隹」depicts a bird.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>H1<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7sCUs.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7sCUs.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">乙</a>660<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=2317&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集2317</a></kbd><kbd>H2<br>戰國<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZFO6E.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZFO6E.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>陳侯午敦<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=4647&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成4647</a></kbd><kbd>G3<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/u0QvB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/u0QvB.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>G4<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZnslW.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZnslW.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/X2eN4.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/X2eN4.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>「則」(<em>patterns</em> > <em>norms/rules</em>) is composed of</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>「鼎」(<em>cauldron</em>), a semantic component;</li>
  <li>「刀・刂」(<em>knife</em>), a semantic component.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>J1<br>西周<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/w1CGx.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/w1CGx.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>曶鼎<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=2838&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成2838</a></kbd><kbd>J2<br>春秋<br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BZmbN.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BZmbN.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>曾子簠<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=4528&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成4528</a></kbd><kbd>J3<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QC20r.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QC20r.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>J4<br>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dyAkl.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dyAkl.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡・日甲</a>39<br>　</kbd><kbd>J5<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/8yDZg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8yDZg.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
  
  <hr>
  
  <h1>刀</h1>
  
  <p>「刀・刂」depicts a knife.</p>
  
  <h1><kbd>K1<br>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Rm5Of.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Rm5Of.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a>3092<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=20349&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集20349</a></kbd><kbd>K2<br><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ezBXM.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ezBXM.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>K3<br>秦<br>簡<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/symrc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/symrc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡・日甲</a>26<br>　</kbd><kbd>K4<br>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/WbRmc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WbRmc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p><strong>References:</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》</li>
<li>季旭昇《說文新證》</li>
<li><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">小學堂</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">國學大師</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-04T07:58:52.020Z
2018-12-04T08:59:09.233Z
2018-12-04T08:59:09.233Z
dROOOze
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hVAHM.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hVAHM.jpg" alt="Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine" /></a></p>
<p>Hi, this four character inscription is on an ancestral altar which contains two spirit tablets. I am unsure of the more modern equivalents of these characters and would be grateful for any assistance.</p>

<character-identification><seal>
What are the characters in this seal script inscription on an ancestral altar? (Characters identified: 孝思維則)
# What are the characters in this seal script inscription on an ancestral altar? (Characters identified: 孝思維則)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-04)

[![Seal script inscription on an ancestral shrine](https://i.sstatic.net/hVAHM.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/hVAHM.jpg)

Hi, this four character inscription is on an ancestral altar which contains two spirit tablets. I am unsure of the more modern equivalents of these characters and would be grateful for any assistance.

**Tags:** character-identification, seal

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-12-04. Score: 4

as @drooze revealed, it's "孝思維則"

reading from right to left:

孝: [http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=孝](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%AD%9D)

思: [http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=思](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E6%80%9D)

維: [http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=維](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E7%B6%AD)

則: [http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=則](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%89%87)

the verse is original from 詩經　大雅　文王之什　下武:

> 成王之孚
>
> 下土之式
>
> 永言孝思
>
> 孝思維則

the ctext.org has a translation:

> He secured the confidence due to a king,
>
> And became a pattern of all below him.
>
> Ever thinking how to be filial,
>
> His filial mind was the model [which he supplied].

<https://ctext.org/book-of-poetry/xia-wu>


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-12-04. Score: 4

The characters are **孝思維則**, which comes from a line in a poem called 《下武》 in the anthology [*Classic of Poetry*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_of_Poetry) - *Major Court Hymns*.

> 《詩經・大雅・下武》：「永言孝思，**孝思維則**」
>
> As an idiomatic expression removed from the context of the poem, this translates to:
>
> *[Man] must forever abide by [filial piety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_piety), for **filial piety is the moral code [of Man]***.

---

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/n59jw.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/n59jw.png)

> 「孝」([Baxter-Sagart OC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructions_of_Old_Chinese#Baxter%E2%80%93Sagart_(2014)): **/\*qʰˤuʔ-s/** > [Middle Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Chinese): **/hˠauH/**, [*Fanqie*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanqie): **呼敎切**, *filial piety*) is composed of
>
> * 「老」(Baxter-Sagart OC: **/\*C.rˤuʔ/** > MC: **/lɑuX/**, *Fanqie*: **盧晧切**, *old*), both a semantic and a phonetic component;
> * 「子」(*child*), a semantic component.
>
> 「老」was later abbreviated to「耂」, as seen in the transition between forms A1 and A2.
>
> # `A1 西周 金 enter image description here 曶鼎 集成2838``A2 楚 簡 enter image description here 郭・語3・61``A3 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``A4 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・法102``A5 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 老
>
> 「老」was originally a depiction of an old, hunched person with unkempt hair grasping a walking cane. The cane later detached from the character (transitioning from B1-B2) and changed to the shape of「匕」(form B2 onwards).
>
> # `B1 商 甲 enter image description here 乙8896 合集22246``B2 商 甲 enter image description here 前2.2.6 合集36416``B3 西周 金 enter image description here 殳季良父壺 集成9713``B4 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・雜32``B5 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 子
>
> 「子」depicts a young child.
>
> # `C1 商 甲 enter image description here 甲2903 合集20576``C2 楚 簡 enter image description here 包2・66``C3 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・秦62``C4 現代 楷 enter image description here`

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/YiZ18.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/YiZ18.png)

> 「思」(Baxter-Sagart OC: **/\*[s]ə/** > MC: **/sɨ/**, *Fanqie*: **息兹切**, *to think about / to miss*) is composed of
>
> * 「囟」(Baxter-Sagart OC: **/\*[s]ə[r]-s/** > MC: **/siɪnH/**, *Fanqie*: **息晉切**), a phonetic component;
> * 「心」(*heart/mind*), a semantic component.
>
> The original form of the character is「恖」; in this character,「囟」was later merged into the shape of「田」, which is easily identifiable in the image.
>
> # `D1 戰國 金 enter image description here 五年龏令思 集成11348``D2 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・為49``D3 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 心
>
> 「心」depicted a heart. The heart chambers later became exaggerated (E1-E2), then heavily abbreviated (E5 onwards).
>
> # `E1 商 甲 enter image description here 甲3510 合集6``E2 西周 金 enter image description here 史墻盤 集成10175``E3 楚 簡 enter image description here 包2・218``E4 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``E5 魏 隸 enter image description here 上尊號奏``E6 現代 楷 enter image description here`

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FrFJo.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/FrFJo.png)

> 「維」(Baxter-Sagart OC: **/\*ɢʷij/** > MC: **/jiuɪ/**, *Fanqie*: **以追切**, *to bind/tie > to maintain/preserve*) is composed of
>
> * 「糸」(*fine silk*), a semantic component;
> * 「隹」(Baxter-Sagart OC: **/\*ɢʷij/**), a phonetic component.
>
> **/\*ɢʷij/** for「隹」is a lost phonetic line; the current pronunciation derives from **/\*tur/** > **/t͡ɕiuɪ/**, **職追切**.
>
> # `F1 春秋 金 enter image description here 蔡侯墓殘鐘 集成224``F2 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``F3 楚 簡 enter image description here 曾123``F4 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 糸
>
> 「糸」depicts fine silk threads.
>
> # `G1 商 甲 enter image description here 京津4487 合集28401``G2 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``G3 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 隹
>
> 「隹」depicts a bird.
>
> # `H1 商 甲 enter image description here 乙660 合集2317``H2 戰國 金 enter image description here 陳侯午敦 集成4647``G3 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``G4 現代 楷 enter image description here`

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/X2eN4.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/X2eN4.png)

> 「則」(*patterns* > *norms/rules*) is composed of
>
> * 「鼎」(*cauldron*), a semantic component;
> * 「刀・刂」(*knife*), a semantic component.
>
> The structure「則」originally described the carving of patterns onto bronzeware. Later on,「鼎」was abbreviated into「貝」, which is easily identifiable in the image.
>
> # `J1 西周 金 enter image description here 曶鼎 集成2838``J2 春秋 金 enter image description here 曾子簠 集成4528``J3 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``J4 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・日甲39``J5 現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> ---
>
> # 刀
>
> 「刀・刂」depicts a knife.
>
> # `K1 商 甲 enter image description here 甲3092 合集20349``K2 篆 enter image description here 說文解字``K3 秦 簡 enter image description here 睡・日甲26``K4 現代 楷 enter image description here`

---

**References:**

* 黃德寬《古文字譜系疏證》
* 季旭昇《說文新證》
* [小學堂](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/)
* [國學大師](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/)


---

