One among the Shang dynasty versions of the grapheme 禘 dì , verbal form of 帝 Dì ("Deity"), whose meaning is "to divine, to sacrifice (by fire)". The modern standard version is distinguished by the prefixion of the grapheme for "cult" (礻shì) to the nominal Dì . Source: Didier, John C. (2009). "In and Outside the Square: The Sky and the Power of Belief in Ancient China and the World, c. 4500 BC – AD 200". Sino-Platonic Papers . Victor H. Mair (192). Volume II: Representations and Identities of High Powers in Neolithic and Bronze China , p. 107 ff.

It may represent a fish entering the square of the north celestial pole ( dīng 口, archaic of 丁, i.e. the square tool as well as the north celestial pole, the supreme Dì itself). Source: Didier (2009). Volume III: Terrestrial and Celestial Transformations in Zhou and Early-Imperial China , p. 6.