关系 (relationships/connections) is one of the most important concepts in Chinese culture - personal networks and social connections that facilitate everything from business to daily life.
Top two slanting strokes - historically the door-leaves of the gate, the same divider top found in 兰, 半, 兴, 单. In simplified 关 (from 關) these strokes are all that remains of the gate pictograph 門 plus its inner bolt. No canonical Kangxi survives; modern schemes file 关 under 八 or 二.
Bottom 天-shape - graphically the standalone 天 'sky' (4 strokes match exactly), but here it is the simplified residue of the original 関 inner bolt and door-bar, not the 'heaven' meaning. Functions as the body of the closed gate.
In Pop Culture
山海关Shānhǎiguān
Shanhai Pass
Famous pass where the Great Wall meets the sea; literally 'mountain-sea pass'.
