Chou Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Earth (tǔ) Entry: Qi Kangxi Stroke Count: 9 Page 227, Entry 36 Ancient form of Ji. According to Broad Rimes (Guangyun), pronounced ci. According to Collected Rimes (Jiyun), pronounced ci. According to Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters (Shuowen), to use earth to raise the level of a main road. In ancient times, it was written as Ji. Textual research: According to Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters (Shuowen), to use earth to raise the level of a main road. One version writes it as. Following the original text, one version has been changed to the ancient form Ji.