Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Bo Kangxi strokes: 18 Page 1317, Entry 15 Pronounced bo. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuōwén): Bo refers to scales. It is the metal ornament on the horizontal beam above a bell. Formed from the radical for metal and a phonetic component. Xu Shen says: It is an ornament on the bell support. Yupian says: Bo is a scaled creature, similar to a human, or a horizontal wooden beam used to hang bells. Also refers to a large bell. Rites of Zhou (Zhōulǐ), Spring Officials: The master of bo manages the metal drums. Zuo Tradition (Zuǒzhuàn), 11th Year of Duke Xiang: And their bo and chime stones. Discourses of the States (Guóyǔ): Lingzhou Jiu replied to King Jing of Zhou: When the delicate pitch has bells but no bo, it manifests its greatness. When the grand pitch has bo but no bells, and when it is very grand and has no bo, it causes its delicate sounds to ring out. The grand and the small ring out; this is the way of harmony. Note: Wei Zhao says: Delicate refers to delicate sounds, such as the jue, zhi, and yu notes. Pitch refers to tuning. Bells are large bells. Bo are small bells. Manifest means to clarify. If there are bells but no bo, the two delicate sounds do not harmonize, so use the bell as a regulator. Clarifying the large balances the small by suppressing the large. The large refers to the gong and shang notes. When two large notes do not harmonize, remove the bell and use the bo to balance the large. When it is very grand, meaning all notes are grand, remove the bo. Only the delicate sounds ring out, where delicate refers to strings, bamboo, leather, and wood instruments. Grand sounds manifest, small sounds ring out; this is the way of harmony and balance. Zhengzitong says: Note: Bo is smaller than a bell; Wei Zhao's note is very clear. However, Zheng Kangcheng's commentaries on the Rites of Zhou and the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yílǐ) both say that a bo is like a bell but larger, which contradicts the Discourses of the States. Also, according to Shuowen Jiezi: A type of agricultural tool. Book of Odes (Shījīng), Zhou Hymns (Zhōusòng): Prepare your hoes and bo. Commentary: Bo is a weeding tool. Interpretation of Texts: Pronounced bo. Shiming says: Bo is a type of hoe. Also, Huainanzi: Flowery, ornate, and bright. Note: Bo refers to something like a golden vessel that is bright and beautiful. Textual research: In the Book of Odes, Zhou Hymns: The original text incorrectly had the character for hemorrhoids; it has been corrected to the character for prepare according to the original text.