riding crop, encourage, plan

策 is composed of the radical of 竹 (bamboo) and 朿 (stab). 朿 means a sharp thorn. Therefore, 策 conveys the idea of a bamboo staff with sharp points. Its original meaning is a horsewhip. A horsewhip can urge a horse to go faster. From this, 策 also carries the meaning of driving or urging, and is used to refer to the wisdom that helps achieve a certain goal, meaning a strategy or plan.