U+78EC "磬" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character

U+78EC "磬" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a Chinese character that refers to an ancient stone or jade chime, a percussion instrument traditionally used in Chinese ritual music and court ceremonies. Composed of the stone radical 石 and the phonetic component 殸, the character visually evokes the idea of striking a resonant stone. In historical contexts, the qing chime was often carved in the shape of a curved or angular plate and suspended from a frame, producing clear tones when struck. Beyond its musical meaning, the character also appears in classical texts and idioms, symbolizing harmony, reverence, or the solemnity of ritual practice.