The prototypical meaning and metaphorical characteristics of the “目” (eye) in early Ancient Chinese

This study examined the prototypical and extended meanings of the body part term “目” (eye) by investigating its actual usage in Ancient Chinese. Analysis of the Zuo Zhuan and the Records of the Grand Historian revealed the following: First, the prototypical meaning of “目” is categorized into the shape of the eye (e.g., “eye”), structure (e.g., “pupil,” and “eyeball”), and function (e.g., “gaze”). Second, from the perspective of conceptual metaphors, in Zuo Zhuan and Records of the Grand Historian, the meaning of “eye” extends only to people or objects. The findings contradict Heine’s theory of categorical metaphor that follows a unidirectional expansion from “person ＞ object ＞ action ＞ space ＞ time ＞ quality.” Third, from the perspective of metonymy, the expressions related to “eye” in Zuo Zhuan extend to those conveying emotions, whereas in Records of the Grand Historian, they also represent attitudes. Specifically, in the domain of emotions, “目” represents anger and anxiety, while in attitudes, it conveys tension.