U+956C "镬" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character

U+956C "镬" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a traditional Chinese character that historically refers to a large, deep cooking pot or cauldron, typically used for boiling water or cooking food in ancient Chinese cuisine. In classical texts, it is often associated with the punishment of boiling in oil, known as "镬烹," though its primary meaning remains a robust metal vessel for heating liquids. The character is composed of the metal radical 金 on the left and the phonetic component 蒦 on the right, reflecting its material and sound. In modern usage, it appears in culinary contexts, such as describing a wok-like pan, and is retained in some regional dialects and literary references.