Yin Collection, Middle Volume
Radical: Mountain (shān)
Island
Kangxi Strokes: 10
Page 312, Entry 04
Pronounced dao (rising tone).
According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), a mountain in the sea that can be relied upon for shelter is called an island. It is formed by the character for mountain and the sound of the character for bird.
In the Explaining Names (Shiming), it states that an island is where one arrives; it is a place where people arrive by traveling.
In the Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the Tribute of Yu (Yu Gong), it mentions the island barbarians who wear hides. Kong Anguo comments that a bend in the sea is called an island, and the barbarians who reside on these islands offer their hides as tribute.
In the Sea Rhapsody (Hai Fu) by Mu Hua, it mentions towering islands and giant turtles.
According to the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), it is sometimes written in a variant form (dǎo).
In the Western Capital Rhapsody (Xijing Fu) by Zhang Heng, it mentions long winds stirring at the islands.
It is also written in a variant form (dǎo).
According to the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), in ancient times, it was used interchangeably with the character for bird.
Textual research notes: The original entry contained several inconsistencies with classical sources. The following corrections have been made: According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), a mountain in the sea that can be relied upon for shelter is called an island. It is formed by the character for mountain and the sound of the character for bird. According to the Explaining Names (Shiming), an island is where one arrives; it is a place where people arrive by traveling. In the Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the Tribute of Yu (Yu Gong), it mentions the island barbarians who wear hides. Kong Anguo comments that a bend in the sea is called an island, and the barbarians who reside on these islands offer their hides as tribute. In the Sea Rhapsody (Hai Fu) by Mu Hua, it mentions towering islands and giant turtles. Note that the character for turtle is written with the component for frog rather than fish.
