Zi Collection, Page Position: Lower
Radical: Heart (xīn)
Page 123, Entry 05
Tang Yun and Zheng Yun record it as fang wen, and Ji Yun and Yun Hui record it as fu wen, pronounced fen (rising tone). Explaining the Characters and Writing (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as vexation. The character is formed by the heart radical with the sound component ben. The Discourses of the States (Zhouyu) contains the line: The yang energy is filled with agitation. The commentary states: This means accumulation, referring to pent-up frustration and overflowing anger.
Additionally, Ji Yun records that it is sometimes written as a variant form (zhuàn). It is also written as ben. The Record of Rites (Liji) states: When grand and expansive music arises, the people will become strong and firm. The Sound and Meaning (Yinyi) notes that according to the commentary it is read as fen, pronounced fu fen.
It is also written as feng. The Zhuangzi, in the Robber Zhi chapter, contains the line: Obstructed by the energy of indignation, and this is how Guo Xiang read it.
It is also recorded in Yun Hui and Zheng Yun as fang wen, pronounced the same as fen. It means full. The Analects of Confucius (Lunyu) states: Unless one is in a state of frustrated hesitation, do not enlighten him. The Analects of Confucius (Lunyu) also states: Exerting oneself with such diligence that one forgets to eat. Note: According to the commentary, it is read with a rising tone; dictionaries contain both rising and departing tone pronunciations. It is also rhymed as fu yun, pronounced the same as fen. Su Zhe, in the Eulogy for Fan Zhen, writes: Persisting in remonstrance despite being ignored, thus resulting in the status of a subject. Opening wide the gates to welcome scholars, harboring neither resentment nor agitation. In Explaining the Characters and Writing (Shuowen Jiezi), the variant form is the original character for this term. The character is sometimes written with the grass radical.