Chou Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Mouth (kǒu)
Page 179, Entry 07
Kangxi strokes: 7
According to the Tang Dynasty Rhyme Dictionary (Tangyun), the pronunciation is cheng. According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is cheng. According to the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), the pronunciation is cheng. The character is pronounced cheng.
Explaining Characters and Phrases (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as level. The character is composed of the radical for mouth and a phonetic component.
The Jade Chapters (Yupian) defines it as to resolve. The Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) denotes to show or to manifest. The Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun) denotes to reveal. It is also a surname. The Correct Character Guide (Zhengzitong) notes that in the Ancient and Modern Seal Archives (Gujin Yinsou) there is a person with the surname Cheng and given name Shen. It is also interchangeable with the character cheng.
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals of Qin Shi Huang: The Emperor used a balance to weigh documents, with a daily quota, and would not rest until it was met.
Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) record the pronunciation as zheng, with the same sound as the character zheng. Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) denotes to show off or to recommend oneself. Old Book of Tang (Tangshu), Biography of Wei Ao: One fears there were no censors who recommended themselves.
Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) records the pronunciation as cheng, with the same sound as the character cheng. It is identical to the character meaning to act freely or to be successful. Another meaning is to be happy or satisfied. Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) notes it was written as cheng in ancient times. Detailed annotation appears in the sprout radical, four strokes.
Character Collection Supplement (Zihuibu) states it is an ancient form of the character kuang. Detailed annotation appears in the dog radical, four strokes.
Guo's Corrections (Guoshi Zhengwu): The character cheng is composed of king and mouth. It is different from the character cheng. The character cheng follows the radical.
