In his fascinating Faith of Our Fathers , Chan Kei Thong points to many biblical images embedded in Chinese characters. His argument could be made even stronger by looking at Hebrew terminology.
For instance, he says of the character “zui,” which means sin, that “The top part is . . . zi . . . depicting a nose to represent self.” Of course, Adam becomes a living soul when the Spirit breathes into his nose (Gen 2:7), and throughout the Hebrew Bible the nose flares (with flame) to express anger (Job 32:2-3) and a “long nose” suggests patience.
Elsewhere, Chan Kei Thong suggests that the person can be depicted by a mouth symbol, which perhaps links with the Hebrew word NEPHESH, which arguably comes from terms meaning “throat.” To call man a “soul,” Thomas Staubli and Silvia Schroer argue, is to say that man is a “needy, greedy being . . . a creature that pants for and craves life.” In short, a mouth or throat.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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