古典
こてん · koten · JLPT N2 · noun
classics
📚 古 (old) + 典 (canon/code) = old canon: classics
古 means ancient and 典 means authoritative text, so 古典 names works of the old canon that have stood the test of time.
古 — ten 十 + mouth 口
古 is traditionally analyzed as 十 (ten) over 口 (mouth), suggesting words passed down through ten generations — hence 'ancient' or 'old.' Some scholars view the top as a stylized helmet or skull shape in oracle bone forms. The core meaning of 'ancient, old, former times' has remained stable since early Chinese writing.