Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Jade (yù) Dang; Kangxi strokes: 18; Page 743, Entry 06 Pronounced dang Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Characters and Phrases): Beautiful ornaments. Also, Guangyun (Broad Rhymes): An ear pearl. Jiyun (Collective Rhymes): A jade ornament for the ear. Ancient Poem, Written for the Wife of Jiao Zhongqing: A flowing white silk ribbon tied at the waist, and bright moon-like pendants worn in the ears. Also, History of the Former Han, Biographies of Eunuchs: During the Qin and Han dynasties, the office of Palace Attendant was held by scholars. The hats they wore were decorated with silver dang and sable tails on the left side. Emperor Ming of Han changed these to gold dang and sable tails on the right side, appointing only eunuchs to this position. Book of the Later Han, Treatise on Carriages and Clothing: The hats of the Palace Attendants were adorned with gold dang, featuring cicada-shaped patterns and decorated with sable tails. Also refers to jade ornaments on the ends of roof rafters, known as bidang. History of the Former Han, Biography of Sima Xiangru: Ornate rafters with jade-decorated rafter ends. Annotation by Yan Shigu: Bidang refers to jade rafter ends. It is what is called a xuanti, or jade-ornamented rafter end. Another interpretation suggests it refers to jade ornaments on the roof tiles. Selections of Refined Literature, Ban Gu, Western Capital Rhapsody: Crafted gold and jade to decorate the rafter ends. Annotation: Dang is an ornament for the end of a rafter. Also refers to jinlangdang, which are bells. Poem by Du Fu: High palace halls in the deep night, the wind blows the golden bells, causing them to chime. Zhengyun (Correct Rhymes): Also written as langdang. Also refers to dingdang, the sound of jade pendants clashing. Shiji (Commentary on the Book of Odes): Jade pendants making a dingdang sound. Yunhui (Collection of Rhymes): One way of writing it is dingdang. Another way of writing it is dingdong. Also refers to langdang, meaning chains. See the detailed notes under the character lang. Also the name of a plant. Commentary on the Book of Odes, Zhou Nan, Picking Picking: The appearance of the cocklebur plant resembles the ear ornaments worn by women. Nowadays, some people call it erdang grass.