Gù ng, pinyin for Gù ng, is a first-class standardized Chinese character (commonly used word). This word began to appear in the Warring States script, and its shape was from Bei to Gong Sheng. The original meaning refers to tribute and dedication, and also refers to the gift from the upper layer to the lower layer and the contribution from the lower layer to the upper layer. It also refers to hard work, which extends to paying tribute and taxes to rulers and recommending talents.

On the Origin of Gong's Creation

From the Warring States script to regular script, there is not much change in form. They are all pictophonetic characters, with "Bei" as the shape and "Gong" as the sound. In Chinese characters, the word "Bei" is mostly related to property. The original meaning of "tribute" is to present articles, including property, to the court. In ancient times, shellfish was used as currency, so "tribute" used "shellfish" as a symbol.

According to the simplified character list, "Bei" is simplified as "Bei", and "Gong" is also simplified as "Gong" by analogy.

Tribute system has a long history in China. At first, the central government took this as a method of "serving the country", and subordinate countries or local governments expressed their obedience in the form of "tribute". Tribute often gets nothing in return, but later "tribute" gradually became a form and a symbol.

There was also a saying of "palace city" in ancient times. Local talents are recommended to the central authorities, just like tribute specialties. Since the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court has selected talents, which is called "township tribute" recommended by counties.

Bai Juyi's "Give Chen Shu": "Ten years of hard work, you get a tribute." When he said "tribute", he meant "recommendation". People who were selected as rural tributes in the Tang Dynasty can go to Beijing to take the exam. Later, people selected from scholars in various counties can study in imperial academy. These people are called Gong Sheng. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the tribute system was an important part of the imperial examination system.

The extended meanings of the word "Gong" are mainly "take out" and "dedication". For example, the word "dedication" originally meant "dedication". As a noun, it refers to what is provided. In modern times, it refers to the use of materials and suggestions for things that are beneficial to the country and the public, such as "we should make more contributions to the construction of the motherland" and "he has contributed to the national defense cause all his life".