U+956B "镫" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character

U+956B "镫" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a Chinese character composed of the metal radical on the left and a phonetic component on the right, representing a stirrup used in horse riding or a type of metal lamp. In historical contexts, it appears in classical Chinese texts such as the Tang dynasty poems and military records, where it referred to the footrest for mounting horses, a crucial innovation for cavalry. In modern usage, it remains a standard character in traditional and simplified Chinese, often seen in vocabulary related to equestrian gear or, less commonly, to describe a hanging lamp or lantern. Its primary meaning as "stirrup" connects it to ancient warfare and transport, while its secondary sense of "lamp" reflects a metaphorical extension based on the shape or suspended nature of early metal light fixtures.