Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Bing Kangxi stroke count: 14 Page 1303, Entry 21 Correct Character Guide (Zhengzitong): This is a vulgar form of the character for cake. Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Collection (Yunhui): Pronounced bing (falling-rising tone). The sound is the same as the word for cake (bing). It refers to a gold plate. Approaching Elegance (Erya), Explanation of Vessels: Gold formed into a block is called a ban. Commentary: The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli) states: When sacrificing to the five emperors, one offers gold plates, which refers to this. Explanation of Texts: Bing is pronounced the same as the word for cake (bing). Correct Character Guide (Zhengzitong): Refers to gold or silver melted and cast into a cake shape. Comprehensive Elegance (Tongya): Bing is also called a hu, similar to what is now called an ingot (ding). Records of the Ink Studio (Mozhuang Manlu): During the Chongning era of the Song dynasty, Mi Fu served as a scholar in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The emperor issued an edict for him to transcribe the Thousand Character Classic in small regular script, and he was rewarded with sixteen hu of white gold. Additionally, Han Huang gave a porter a plate of white gold. Hu and plate are equivalent to bing. Nowadays, in places like Fujian, Zhejiang, and Hunan, silver is melted and cast into cake shapes, which is a legacy of the bing. Biographies of Assembled Immortals (Jixianzhuan), Poem by Wang Hui: If one could think of attaining it, one would be bestowed a bing of gold. Also, Extensive Refinement (Boya): Refers to a pot. Master Yang's Dialect Dictionary (Yangzi Fangyan): A pot, in the regions of Northern Yan, Korea, and the Lie River, is sometimes called dian, and sometimes called bing. Commentary: Pronounced the same as the word for cake (bing). Also, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced bing (falling tone). This is the name of a marquisate during the Han dynasty. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Table of Marquises from the Hui and Jing Eras: Marquis of Bing, Sun Dan. Search for the Obscure (Suoyin) Commentary: Bing is the name of a county. It belonged to Langye Commandery. Also, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced bing (falling tone). In the region of Northern Yan, a pot is called bing.