革命
gémìng · HSK 7
revolt
✊ 革 = leather/hide + 命 = mandate; overthrowing the mandate
革 originally meant animal hide, extended to 'change/strip away'. 命 means decree or mandate. Together: stripping away the ruling mandate — the classical Chinese term for revolution, tied to the Mandate of Heaven concept.
命 — 亼 (gather) + 卩 (kneeling person) + 口 (mouth)
Originally depicted a kneeling figure receiving an oral command from above, combining 令 (order) with an added 口 (mouth) for emphasis. The image of authority issuing decrees extended from 'command' to 'mandate' and then 'destiny, life,' as one's fate was seen as decreed by Heaven.