笈 (jí): a bamboo book-box (used by trav…

Meanings

1 a bamboo book-box (used by traveling scholars)
2 (literary) books; collected writings

Characters

笈

jí

bamboo book-box; books

Examples

古人负笈千里求学。

Gǔrén fù jí qiān lǐ qiúxué.

Ancient scholars carried their book-boxes a thousand li in pursuit of learning.

这部书是道家秘笈。

Zhèbù shū shì Dàojiā mì jí.

This volume is a secret Daoist text.

Tips

history

笈 was the woven bamboo trunk a traveling scholar strapped to his back to carry his books and clothes — the Han-era image preserved in 史记 (Records of the Grand Historian) of 苏秦 'shouldering his 笈' to study with a master. The set phrase 负笈从师 ('shouldering one's book-box to follow a teacher') is still recognised today.

culture

Survives mainly in compounds: 秘笈 (mìjí, 'secret manual / hidden text', heavily used in wuxia novels for legendary kung fu manuals), 道笈 (Daoist scripture-box). Rarely seen alone in modern Chinese.

Components

radical

⺮ zhú

bamboo (top radical of 竹)

Top bamboo radical, the compressed cap form of 竹. Indexes 笈 in the bamboo-craft family alongside 篮 basket, 箱 chest, 筐 hamper. Carries the meaning: a 笈 was a small bamboo book-box, the portable case scholars and pilgrims slung on their backs to carry classics and manuscripts on the road.

phonetic

及 jí

reach; arrive (here phonetic)

Bottom 及 supplies the sound directly — jí to jí, identical. 及 pictures a hand catching up to a person from behind, the moment of reaching — imagery that doesn't transfer. Borrowed for sound. The literary phrase 负笈从师 'shoulder one's book-box and follow a teacher' preserves the scholarly register.