Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Can (chǎn); Kangxi strokes: 14; Page 237, Entry 31.
According to the Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun), pronounced chan (rising tone). According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Treasury (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), pronounced chen (rising tone). It refers to sandy soil. From Shen Yue, Rhapsody on Living in the Suburbs (Jiaoju Fu): Would I rather be divided by the lower earth, or broaden the heavy atmosphere in the upper layer of sandy soil. It also refers to a chaotic or turbid appearance. From Lu Ji, Eulogy for the Meritorious Officials of the Han (Han Gongchen Zan): Boundless is the universe, cloudy above and murky below. In all cases where the term can (慘) is used in the sense of murky, it should be written as can (墋) in the phrase can-du, as seen in the Refinement and Verification of Literary Gems (Yinghua Bianzheng).