Han character 旌

It means a feathered banner, then “to mark” or “commend.”

The banner was a visible marker: it could distinguish a person or signal a command. From that use, 旌 can mean to distinguish something or make it known.

In 旌表, what is made known is someone's merit, so 旌 means publicly commend rather than naming a flag.

When was 旌 first written?

The oldest form listed for 旌 is small-seal script.

The Shuowen Jiezi is an early Chinese dictionary; it preserves 旌 in small-seal script, an early standardized writing style. It describes split feathers fixed to a yak-tail ornament at a banner’s tip, carried on a traveling cart to encourage soldiers. The entry draws on the Zhouli, a text about court offices and rites.

As of 2026, the CUHK Chinese-character record lists no oracle-bone or bronze form of 旌. The banner tradition does not give a date for when this exact written form began.

Can 旌 mean praise?

Yes, but the praise reading is formal and context-dependent.

In 旌表, 旌 means to commend or publicly honor someone. Japanese dictionaries mark the banner sense as old and the commendation sense as literary; Chinese dictionary entries also record banner and verb uses.

When 旌 appears alone, let the surrounding sentence settle the sense.