民
ミン, たみ, ひと, み

people, nation, subjects

JLPT3 G4 S5 F28

A depiction of an eye blinded in being pierced by a needle → blinding of a slave → *people* (← subservient masses who go blindly about their lives) → *nation*. Note that in contrast to 目, the bronzeware inscription form of 民 lacks a pupil. For the blinding of slaves, compare 艮, 敃, 僕 and 童.

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