You Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Shell (bèi) Kangxi Strokes: 14 Page 1208, Entry 37 Ancient literature records: Tangyun, Jiyun, Yunhui, and Zhengyun all record the pronunciation as bin (level tone), same as the pronunciation of bin (shore). Shuowen Jiezi states it refers to a person who is respected. Yupian states it refers to a guest. Book of Changes (Yijing), Guan hexagram, states it is advantageous to become a guest of the king. Book of Documents (Shujing), Canon of Yao (Shundian), states to welcome guests at the four gates. Also in the Great Plan (Hongfan), among the eight items of government, the seventh is guest. The commentary states that treating guests with ritual and respect is essential. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Master of Ceremonies, states that the host informs the guests. The commentary explains that guest refers to the colleagues and friends of the host. Also, Erya, Interpretation of Words (Shigu), states that guest means to submit or obey. The commentary states that guest refers to those who cherish virtue and submit. Xinxu states the reason why ancient kings could command with composure and cause the four quarters to submit was because their sincere virtue was fully manifest; thus the Book of Odes (Shijing) says: The kingly way is truly full, and the Xu region has already come to pay homage. Also in the Book of Documents (Shujing), Canon of Yao (Yaodian), it refers to respectfully guiding the rising sun. The commentary states that guest here means to guide. Interpretation of Text (Shiwen) says it means to follow. It also refers to a name of a pitch pipe. Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling), refers to the Ruibin pitch pipe. The commentary states that when the atmosphere of mid-summer arrives, the Ruibin pitch pipe responds. Baihu Tong states that rui means to descend and bin means to respect, meaning the yang energy has reached its peak and the yin energy begins to respectfully follow. Also, Jibin is the name of a country in the Western Regions. Book of Han (Qianhan), Records of the Western Regions, states the King of Jibin ruled over Xunxian City. Also a surname. Yuhai states that the Bin clan existed in the Zhou dynasty with members such as Bin Hua and Bin Qi, and in the Qi state with Bin Xuwu and Bin Meiren. Also the name of an official post. Book of Tang (Tangshu), Treatise on Official Posts, states that the Si-bin and Dian-bin were in charge of guests, with two officials appointed to each post. Also Longbin. Record of Tao Family Bottles (Taojia Ping Yushi) states that on the desk of Emperor Ming of Tang, an ink stick appeared one day where a small Taoist priest the size of a fly called out for long life, saying: I am the spirit of the ink, the envoy of the black pine. Whenever a person in the world has literary talent, there will be twelve Longbin on their ink. The Emperor considered it miraculous and distributed them to the officials in charge of documents. Also Yebin. Record of Wang's Observations (Wangshi Jianwenlu) states that Wang Renyu raised a monkey, small and intelligent, named Yebin. Also, Jiyun records the pronunciation as bin (falling tone), same as the pronunciation of bin (funeral). Book of Documents (Shujing), Many Officers (Duoshi), states that I consider there is no one in the four quarters worthy of respect. The Interpretation of Text (Shiwen) says Xu Miao read it as bin (funeral). Ma Rong says it means to retreat. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Su Qin, says the next step must be to exclude him for a long time. The commentary states another strategy is to exclude those west of the pass for a long time. Zhuangzi, Xu Wugui, states that since you, sir, dwell in the mountains and forests, you should use this to exclude me. The Sound and Meaning (Yinyi) notes that bin is sometimes written as a variant form (bin) meaning to cast aside.