Chou Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Earth (tǔ) Kangxi Strokes: 11 Page 230, Entry 40 Pronounced dai. Earth built into a dam to obstruct water. It is a place where taxes are levied on passing vessels; both banks are equipped with rotating axles. When a vessel passes, ropes are tied to the stern, and either manpower or ox power is used to turn the axle and pull the vessel forward. Book of Jin Restoration (Jin Zhongxing Shu) states that ox carts were used to haul vessels over the dam and collect taxes. Additionally, Xie Yuan built the Luliang Dam to facilitate water transport. It also refers to a place name. Shidai is located southeast of Chizhou. Universal Geography (Huanyu Ji) records that at the source of Guichi, there are two stones lying across the stream like a dam, from which the name is derived. It is commonly written as a variant form (dai). It is colloquially written as the character for dam (dai).