令
レイ, のり, りょう, れ

orders, ancient laws, command, decree

JLPT2 G4 S5 F804

An abbreviated form# of 今 (contain in the mouth) + 卩 kneeling figure → kneeling figure listening carefully to a long sequence of commands issuing from the mouth of a ruler → *command*; *order*; *rule*; *leader*.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]