字形分析Character Analysis:
会意字。甲骨文字形，下面像手，上面说法不一，或认为是捕猎工具，或认为是占卜的器具。合起来表示进行占卜的史官。
史 was a Logical Compound in Oracle Bone writing, consisting two pieces: the lower part looks like a hand, while the upper, on which opinions have greatly differed, symbolizes a primitive type of tool for hunting, say a spear, or some instrument used for the practice of augury. I prefer the latter explanation, for by which I can ease it for you in a more logical way. You might not know that the predecessor of ancient Chinese historians was the augur or diviner who foretold events by observing and interpreting astronomical phenomenon. Therefore, some ancient Chinese holding up an auguring instrument in one hand is most likely to be an early historian, who is officially assigned to in charge of the auguring practice.
本义Original meaning:
史官historiographer; official historian
Lily explains 史 like this:
I hate to say but that the modern written form of 史 has changed so much that you could hardly see its original meaning solely by its appearance. Follow me and let us crack this hard nut together. It has long been known that the augur or soothsayer used to enjoy supreme power and authority in the very early tribal Chinese culture for the sake of primitive religions and worship of gods and ghosts. In later Shang and Zhou Dynasty, historians, completely differentiated from the wizard and witch, officially served as a chronicler to write or compile a record of important state events as well as a chief consultant for the emperor and leuds. So, you see, historians once was almost of the most important in the very early Chinese society, and as a result, what a historian said must be followed even by the supreme ruler of a state, word by word. So, the mouth of historian should be given more prominence than any one else. And that’s just why the modern Chinese character of 史 looks like a person (人) with a pretty huge mouth (口).
