WHOLE CHARACTER
班bān
class; team; scheduled service; work shift
The historical explanation connects cutting with dividing jade. Today 班 commonly names a class, team or work shift; the modern king meaning of 王 does not explain it.
This is a historical shape comparison. The familiar 王 and 刀 glyphs stand for jade-side and knife-related forms; their modern shapes do not give a stroke-perfect disassembly.
JADE PIECE; STRUCTURAL
王wáng
king; jade-related form
Jade side piece in 班 per ZDIC; repeated for the two jade sides.
In 班: jade piece; structural Historically a jade-related side form; modern 王 means king, which is not used here to derive class.
CUTTING ACTION; STRUCTURAL
刀dāo
knife
Cutting middle piece in 班 per ZDIC.
In 班: cutting action; structural Historical knife-form comparison. The modern middle strokes have a changed shape.
JADE PIECE; STRUCTURAL
王wáng
king; jade-related form
Jade side piece in 班 per ZDIC; repeated for the two jade sides.
In 班: jade piece; structural The other jade-related side form in the historical analysis.