These are the characters in this series. To see them put together in a story, click on the image above to access the pdf. Then review and quiz yourself at the bottom.
祝
zhù
wish well
礻 + 兄
Eastern altar + teenager
Dear Ancestors, I am a desperate teenager. Please wish me well on my exams.
祸
huò
misfortune
礻 + 呙guō
Eastern altar + esophagus
Dear Ancestors, an esophagusmisfortune has come upon this family. Please bless the surgery goes well. (Petitioning the Ancestors)
神
shén
gods
礻 + 申shēn
Eastern altar + beet
Dear Ancestors, we offer this beet for you to help us in petitioning the gods of the harvest.
社
shè
society
礻shì + 土
Eastern altar + soil
Dear Ancestors, the soil you worked is still supporting a prosperous society. Thank you.
福
fú
happiness
礻 + 畐fú
Eastern altar + rich man
Dear Ancestors, I would like the full-belly and full-wallet kind of happiness this year.
祷
dǎo
pray
礻 + 寿
Eastern altar + longevity
Dear Ancestors, more than anything, it is the longevity of our mother for which we pray. (Petitioning the Ancestors)
祈
qí
supplicate
礻 + 斤
Eastern altar + catty
Dear Ancestors, here is a 斤 jīn of fruit to sweeten our supplication to you for blessings. (Petitioning the Ancestors)
祥
xiáng
propitious
礻 + 羊yáng
Eastern altar + sheep
Dear Ancestors, I have brought my lucky sheep to you to favorably incline you to bless my flock with a propitious yield. (Petitioning the Ancestors)
禅
chán
meditation
礻 + 单dān
Eastern altar + list
Dear Ancestors, here is the list of mantras that I have been using in meditation. Can you bless them? (Petitioning the Ancestors)
祖
zǔ
ancestor
礻 + 且
Eastern altar + shelves
Dear Ancestors, on these shelves we have tablets for you, our ancestors. May you watch over us.
祉
zhǐ
blessedness
礻 + 止zhǐ
Eastern altar + stop/footprint
Dear Ancestors, I would like to stop right her in this state of blessedness and keep my feet here forever.
礻
shì
*Eastern altar
示
altar modified
the strokes could represent a picture/statue on a shelf, a sash, an incense stick, a piece of fruit
as a component: “示字旁”
视
shì
vision
礻shì + 见
Eastern altar + see
Dear Ancestors, can you see the television? We don’t know if you still have vision as spirits, but we want to share this modern wonder with you. (Petitioning the Ancestors)
礼
lǐ
ceremony
礻 + 乚
Eastern altar + dental hook
Dear Ancestors, this dental hook is being offered on the altar in an appeasement ceremony to you, our dentist ancestor, who hasn’t been able to rest in peace. Please accept it and leave us alone. (Petitioning the Ancestors)