Wei Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Meat (ròu)
Kangxi stroke count: 10
Page 975, Entry 01
Guangyun (Guangyun), Jiyun (Jiyun), and Zhengyun (Zhengyun) state the pronunciation is fen.
Guangyun states it describes the appearance of a large head.
Jiyun notes one source describes it as the appearance of being numerous. Also written as a variant form.
Zhengyun notes it is also written as ban.
Additionally, according to Guangyun, and confirmed by Jiyun, Yunhui (Yunhui), and Zhengyun, the pronunciation is ban.
Jiyun notes this is known as fen.
Yunhui states it refers to bestowing or distributing.
Book of Rites (Liji), Royal Regulations (Wangzhi): Famous mountains and great marshes are not to be distributed.
Classical Explanations (Shiwen): Fen is read as ban. It means to bestow.
Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Visiting Rites (Pinli): Distributing meat and hidden carriages.
Commentary: Fen is the same as bestowal.
Classical Explanations (Shiwen): Pronounced ban.
Textual Research: In the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Visiting Rites (Pinli), the original text mentions fen meat and sou carriages. I have corrected the original text which stated yu carriages to sou carriages.