Zi Collection, Middle Volume
Radical: Person (rén)
Bao
Kangxi Strokes: 17
Page 120, Entry 21
Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced bao (falling tone). Officials serving consecutive night shifts.
Tang Records (Tangzhi): When newly assigned to government offices, they must serve night shifts, which is called bao. Bao duty, also written as leopard duty, is also called crouching leopard, taking the meaning of not being able to leave.
Records of Things Seen and Heard (Jianwenlu): The old custom for imperial censors was that upon first entering the bureau, one must serve duty for five days; when all other officials leave, this person remains alone, which is called leopard duty.
Old Regulations of the Hanlin Academy by Yang Ju: There is a precedent for night duty, which is exactly bao duty.
General Dictionary (Zhengzitong): Today, common usage refers to those who perform tasks outside the scheduled curriculum as bao. The Dictionary of Characters (Zihui) confuses the character for heart radical with bao, which is an error. According to research, the character bao only appears starting from Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun). In ancient times, there was no character for bao.