Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Kangxi strokes: 10. Page 229, Entry 32.
Pronounced cheng. The inner portion is called the city, the outer portion is called the suburb. Explanatory Names (Shiming): City (cheng) means to complete (cheng). Once built, it cannot be destroyed. Past and Present Notes (Gujin Zhu): It means to contain, indicating the capacity to house the capital. Huainanzi, Original Way Training (Yuandao Xun): Gun of the Xia dynasty built city walls three ren high. Another source claims the Yellow Emperor was the first to build cities for people to reside in. White Tiger Hall Discussions (Baihu Tong): The city in which the Son of Heaven resides is called the Noble City. Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of the First Emperor (Shihuang Benji): Qin Shi Huang constructed the Great Wall. Former Han, Annals of Emperor Yuan (Yuandi Ji): Emperor Yuan of Han first built Chang'an city. The southern shape of the city resembled the Southern Dipper, and the northern shape resembled the Northern Dipper, thus it was called the Dipper City. Additionally, when feudal lords exceeded the ritual constraints and built cities larger than the stipulated scale, they were called birth cities, implying growth and expansion. Sima Fa states: To attack a city is to attack the transgressions it has produced. Also, Li Zhao, Supplement to National History (Guoshi Bu): During the New Year and Winter Solstice, when grand audiences were held and all officials were gathered, the chancellor would arrive last, with hundreds of candles arranged, which was known as the Fire City. Wang Yucheng, Record of the Waiting Room (Dailouyuan Ji): The northern palace gate was about to brighten, and the east had not yet dawned. The chancellor set off for court, with candles blazing like a Fire City. Also refers to Layered City. Huainanzi, Topographical Training (Dixing Xun): Descending from the Kunlun Mountain ruins, there are nine levels of Layered City. Sun Chuo, Rhapsody on Tiantai Mountain (Tiantai Fu): If Mount Tai can be climbed, why envy the Layered City? Also refers to an official title. Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Year 16 of Duke Wen: Gongzi Dang served as Minister of Works (Sicheng). Note: Duke Huan of Song changed the title Minister of Works (Sikong) to Minister of Works (Sicheng) to avoid the taboo name of Duke Wu. Also refers to a palace name. Former Han, Biography of Consort Ban (Ban Jieyu Zhuan): Consort Ban resided in the Zengcheng Palace quarters. Also refers to a mountain name. Xicheng Mountain is located west of Huo County in Hedong. Classic of History, Tribute of Yu (Yu Gong): Dizu Mountain and Xicheng Mountain. Also, Chicheng Mountain is located southeast of Kuaiji. Sun Chuo, Rhapsody on Tiantai Mountain (Tiantai Fu): Chicheng Mountain rises with glowing clouds as a marker. Also, a tomb is called a Beautiful City. Records of Wide-ranging Things (Bowuzhi): After Xiahou Ying died, he was taken to be buried outside the eastern gate of the capital. The horses pawed the ground and whinnied, and upon digging there, a stone outer coffin was found with an inscription: The beautiful city is lush and green, three thousand years later to see the light of day. Alas, Duke Teng, resides in this chamber. Also a surname. Surname Cheng, given name Hun. Also Sicheng is a compound surname. Also rhyming with chang. Han Yu, Poem for Zhang Ji: My friend came from the east to inform me, and my family was thereby spared from disaster. I boarded a boat down the Bian River, heading east toward Pengcheng. Research Notes: Records of Wide-ranging Things mentions finding a stone coffin. The inscription reads: The beautiful city is lush and green, two thousand years later to see the light of day. Alas, Duke Xia, resides in this chamber. We have corrected the original text from two to three, and changed Xia to Teng.
