The story of 限

limit, bound

限 is composed of the BuShou of阜(the picture of rice terraces, used to describe something high or towering) and艮(the picture of a man twisting has neck and staring back). When someone is twisting his head and staring backward, his head is limited by his neck and cannot rotate for 360 degree. 艮 means restriction or limitation here, an towering object blocks the way, so 限 has the meaning of restriction or limitation.