Xu Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Metal (jīn)
Chai
Kangxi Strokes: 11
Page 1297, Entry 01
Tang Rhymes (Tangyun): Pronounced cha. Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Rhymes Compilation (Yunhui): Pronounced cha.
Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen): A type of hair pin. Originally written only as the character pronounced cha; this character was added by later people.
Jade Chapters (Yupian): A bifurcated hair pin for women.
Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on the Beauty (Meiren Fu): A jade hair pin hangs from my cap.
Qin Jia, Letter to Wife Xu Shu: I now send a pair of precious hair pins; they may adorn your head.
Cao Zhi, Poem on a Beautiful Woman: Gold bird-shaped hair pins on her head.
Also known as golden hair pin stem, a medicinal name.
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu): Li Shizhen says: Dendrobium looks like a gold hair pin, hence the name. Also, honeysuckle vine is used for detoxification; it is also called gold hair pin stem.
Rhyme Supplement (Yunbu): Rhymes with chi.
Fan Qin, Poem on Setting Affections (Dingqing Shi): With what can I console our parting? Behind my ears are tortoiseshell hair pins.
Also rhymes with chu.
Book of Odes, Commentary and Sub-commentary (Maoshi Zhushu): Wishing to buy red ochre, not knowing there is yellow earth under the stove; wishing to buy a hair pin, not knowing the mountain itself possesses wood for making them.