Zi Collection, Page Position: Lower Radical: Blood (xuè) Page 1076, Entry 03 According to the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun) and the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is er (rising tone). It refers to the name of a ritual involving the sacrifice of blood after opening a book or slaughtering a chicken. The Jade Chapters (Yupian) defines it as ear blood. The Record of Rites (Liji), Miscellaneous Records (Zaji) states, "The ear blood (er) is all performed under the eaves." The commentary states: Ear blood (er) refers to the practice of cutting the hair near the ears of an animal about to be slaughtered for a consecration ritual (xinli) and offering it. The ear is the organ for hearing sounds, and by using this to inform the spirits, one hopes that the spirits will listen. It also refers to the consecration ritual (xinli). The Guliang Commentary (Guliang zhuan), History of Duke Xi, 19th Year, records, "For those who use it, they tap the nose to offer nose blood to the earth altar (she)." The commentary by Fan Ning states: It means to take blood from the nose to smear on the implements used in the ritual for the earth god.