esteem, yet

尚 is composed of the variant of 八 (eight), the variant of 冂 (far, empty) and 口 (mouth) . 八 is a pictograph of a stick divided in two, meaning judgment. 冂 depicts a building elevated above the ground. 口 is the picture of an open mouth, meaning vastness. 尚 means a vast building which has the function of judging. Therefore, it can be inferred that 尚 should refer to an ancient court, but this meaning was later replaced by 堂. The court distinguishes right from wrong and is supreme, so 尚 also means esteem and nobility.