The story of 委

dejected, winding

委 is composed of 禾 (grain) and 女 (woman). the grain will droop if it is ripe. On the other hand, the social status of ancient Chinese women is low, both 禾 and 女 have the meaning of inflection, so 委 means weak and deject. The ancient Chinese believed that it was natural and just for a woman to obey her husband and stay at the inferior position in the family.