戈 gē dagger
How it came to be
A dagger-axe: a pole with the blade set across it near the top and a tuft at the bottom. Not a sword but a pole weapon, swung rather than thrust.
How it is used
- An ancient dagger-axe; by extension warfare: 干戈 (gāngē) weapons/war - 大动干戈 (dàdòng-gāngē) to make a big fuss / resort to force, 化干戈为玉帛 (huà gāngē wéi yùbó) to turn war into peace.
- 倒戈 (dǎogē) = to defect/switch sides. Also 戈壁 (gēbì) the Gobi Desert.