Yin Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Step (chì) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 371, Entry 01 Ancient character. Pronounced zhe (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): To connect or to penetrate. Analects of Confucius (Lunyu): Why not implement the che system? Commentary: In the Zhou dynasty legal system, a ten percent tax was imposed, which was called che. Che means to connect; it was the universal law for the world. Guangyun (Broad Rhymes): Che means to reach or to attain. Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), 16th year of Duke Cheng: Yang Youji crouched and shot at the armor, penetrating seven layers. Commentary: It pierced through seven layers of scales. Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes): Che means a path. Also, to peel or to remove. Book of Odes (Shijing), Bin Wind: Take away those mulberry roots. Also, to cultivate or to manage. Book of Odes (Shijing), Great Odes (Daya): Manage the fields to provide grain. Commentary: Che means to manage. Also, to clear away or to remove. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Master Capping Ceremony: Clear away the divination mat. Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), 12th year of Duke Xuan: The army guards did not remove the state of alert. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Offices of Heaven, Dietary Officials: At the conclusion of a meal, perform music while clearing the vessels. Commentary: When the emperor finishes a meal and clears the vessels, music is performed to accompany the removal. Also, to destroy. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes (Xiaoya): Destroying my walls and houses. Commentary: Che means to destroy my walls and houses. Yangzi Fangyan (Dialect Dictionary): Che means to arrange in order. Cai Yong, Judgments (Duduan): Officials of different surnames who have rendered meritorious service are titled Che Hou (Marquis of Penetration). To avoid the taboo name of Emperor Wu, this was changed to Tong Hou (Marquis of Connection) or Lie Hou (Marquis of Order). Also, pronounced che (entering tone). The meaning is the same. Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes): Sometimes written as a variant form.