You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) 諜 Kangxi Strokes: 16 Page 1169, Entry 01 Pronounced die. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to secret agents or spies within an army. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), it means to spy or observe. In the Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), under the twelfth year of Duke Huan, it states the Chu army divided its forces to cross at Peng, and the Luo people sent Bo Jia to spy on them. The commentary states that die means to spy. The sub-commentary explains this as posing as a person from an enemy state to enter their army, observe gaps or weaknesses, and report back to one's own sovereign; in military treatises, this is called a counter-spy. Also, under the eighth year of Duke Xuan, it says the Jin people captured a Qin spy. The commentary states that die refers to someone who comes and goes as a spy, now called a secret agent. Also, under the first year of Duke Ai, it says to send Nü Ai to spy on Jiao. In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), under the Office of Summer, it mentions the Huan officials patrolling states to apprehend spies and criminals. In the Records of Wu (Wu Zhi), under the Biography of Sun Hao, it says one should send spies to observe their situation. According to the Forest of Characters (Zilin), it is also used interchangeably with the character for document (die). According to the Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), it refers to genealogical records. In the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), under the Table of the Three Generations, it states I have read the genealogical records, and from the Yellow Emperor onwards, all have recorded years; I investigated their chronological records and the transmission of the five virtues, but the ancient texts are all inconsistent and contradictory. In the History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), under the Biography of Zhang Heng, it mentions Zichang recorded them, and they were clearly arranged. The commentary states that die means genealogical order; it is interchangeable with the character for document (die). In The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons (Wenxin Diaolong), it states that when officials inquire about matters, there are reports, petitions, and genealogical records. The term die refers to leaves, as short pieces of writing are like leaves on a branch. The character for die is also written as the character for document (die). It is also used interchangeably with the character for chatter (die). In the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), under the Biography of Zhang Shizhi, it says would one imitate this petty official, being glib and quick-witted? The commentary states that in the Book of Han, it is written as chatter (die die), meaning to be talkative. Pronounced tie. According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the meaning is the same. According to the Categorized Chapters (Leipian), it means to be at peace. Pronounced xie. According to the Categorized Chapters (Leipian), it means words following one another. According to the Revised Rhymes (Zengyun), it is sometimes written as a variant, and incorrectly written as a character with the speech radical. According to the Supplement to the Collection of Characters (Zihui Bu), it is also abbreviated as another form, which is incorrect. Textual research: In the Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), under the twelfth year of Duke Huan, the original text says the Chu army attacked Jiao and crossed at Peng, and the Luo people sent Bo Jia to spy on them. This has been corrected to divide and cross at Peng in accordance with the original text.