U+5247 "則" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character
U+5247 "則" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a logograph used in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) writing systems, most commonly meaning "rule," "principle," "standard," or "then/so" as a conjunction. Historically derived from ancient bronzeware script, its composition features the radical for a knife or sword on the right side, indicating judgment or cutting, and a shell or cowrie on the left, linking to value or standards in early commerce and law. In modern usage, it appears in terms such as "原則" (principle) in Chinese and "規則" (rule) in Japanese, and it is also employed as a measure word for written items like rules or clauses. The character carries cultural significance as a fundamental concept in Confucian ethics and legal philosophy across East Asia.