Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Food (shí) Character: Bing Kangxi Strokes: 17 Page 1421, Entry 30 Pronounced bing (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Characters and Analysis of Compound Figures): A flour-based food, cakes or flatbreads. Shi Ming (Explanation of Names): Bing, meaning to combine; it refers to using water to mix flour so that the ingredients fuse together. Fangyan (Local Dialects) by Yang Xiong: Bing is also known as tuo, or zhang, or hun. Wen Xuan (Selections of Refined Literature): Shu Xi wrote a Rhapsody on Cakes. Also refers to shuiyin bing (a type of noodle). Book of Qi (Qi Shu), Biography of He Ji: Emperor Taizu enjoyed shuiyin bing; He Ji instructed the women in his household to prepare them personally to present to the Emperor. Zhengzitong (Correction of Character Dictionary): This refers to what are now called shui mian (water noodles). Also written in a variant form. A New Account of Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu): He Pingshu possessed a handsome appearance. Emperor Ming of Wei suspected he had applied powder to his face. During the height of summer, the Emperor served him hot soup to eat; after he began to sweat and wiped his face, his complexion appeared even brighter and whiter.