Chou Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Earth (tǔ) Entry: bi Kangxi strokes: 7 Page 226, Entry 02 Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced bi (falling tone). Explanation of Graphs (Shuowen): Lands connected in sequence. It also means to cooperate. One view suggests standing shoulder to shoulder. Also used as a personal name. The consort of the Marquis of Wei was named Bi. It is also used interchangeably with the character for palace steps (bi). Jia Yi, Policy on Peace and Order (Zhi'an Ce): The monarch is like a main hall, and the ministers are like the steps leading up to it. Also written in the variant form (bi).