誥

Formal communication delivered in a high register (e.g., royal decrees, ancestral temple rites, or official instructions). The term implies an asymmetrical power dynamic and carries legal or moral authority. It generally falls into three categories:

1. Proclamation: A formal announcement of law, policy, or state affairs; often performative in nature.

2. Charge/Instruction: A transmission of duty or responsibility, common in succession contexts or the assignment of a mandate.

3. Admonition: A corrective warning or reminder of failure delivered from a position of authority.

• Transitive Verb: To proclaim to, to charge [someone] with, or to solemnly instruct.
• Noun: The document itself (e.g., "Royal Decree" or "Proclamation"), typically when appearing in a title or as a standalone heading.

Contrast with 告 (gào): While both involve "telling," 告 is versatile and can be neutral, lateral, or upward (reporting to a superior). In contrast, 誥 is strictly top-down and is almost never used for reporting up the chain of command.

• Fanqie reading: 古到

// Tang-period reading: //gɑ̀u

• Simplified variant: U+8BF0

First establish the hierarchy of the speakers. If the power dynamic is not clearly superior-to-inferior, consider whether the usage is ironic or a rare regional variant for a simpler notification. Otherwise, select a term that reflects the solemnity and authority of the communication (e.g., "decreed," "charged," "admonished").