Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tanned Leather (wéi) Kangxi Strokes: 20 Page 1395, Entry 10 Pronounced bì Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen) states it is a knee pad. It is used to cover the front part of the body. It is made of processed cowhide. The lower part is two feet wide, the upper part is one foot wide, and the neck part is five inches wide. An official of the first rank uses a reddish-yellow knee pad, while an official of the second rank uses a red knee pad. The character form is composed of the radical for tanned leather and the phonetic element bi. Guangyun (Guangyun) identifies it as a knee pad used in barbarian attire. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Gui states: I wish to see the white knee pads. Furthermore, Xiao Ya (Xiaoya), Cai Shu commentary states: The fu is the style of knee pad from ancient times. In ceremonial court dress, it is called fu, while in other garments, it is called bi. The sub-commentary notes: The fu and the bi are both styles of knee pads, and their structural forms are identical. Book of Rites (Liji), Jade Beads states: For knee pads, the ruler uses vermilion, the high official uses white, and the scholar uses reddish-black processed cowhide. The commentary notes: These are the knee pads for court and sacrificial dress. The meaning of bi is to cover. All knee pads are made of processed cowhide, and the color must match the color of the lower garment. Guangyun (Guangyun) notes it is sometimes written as a variant form. The common variant is written as bi. Jiyun (Jiyun) notes it is interchangeable with the character bi.