Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tree (mù) Feng; 13 strokes; Page 539, Entry 08 Pronounced feng. Pronounced feng. Pronounced feng. The pronunciation is the same as feng. Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Simple and Compounding Characters): This is a type of tree. Its leaves are thick, its branches are slender and weak, and it sways easily. Another name for it is sheshe. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Section on Trees: The maple tree is also called sheshe. Guo Pu's commentary: This tree resembles a white poplar; its leaves are round and lobed, contain resin, and are fragrant. It is the modern-day sweetgum tree. Piya (Augmented Elegance): Its branches sway easily, which is why the character is derived from the word for wind. The leaves have three ridges and turn red after the frost falls, which is called red maple. Its wood can be used to make models of implements. Also, according to Shuowen Jiezi: Maple wood was planted in abundance in the palaces of the Han dynasty, which is why palaces were referred to as fengchen. Also, according to Nanfang Caomu Zhuang (Plants and Trees of the Southern Regions): The sweetgum tree has fruit the size of a duck egg, which can be burned after being dried. This tree is found only in Jiuzhen Commandery (in modern-day Vietnam). Also, according to Shu Bencao (Sichuan Pharmacopoeia): The resin of the maple tree turns into amber after being buried in the ground for a thousand years. Also, according to Bencao Tujing (Illustrated Pharmacopoeia), citing the Shuyi Ji (Record of Strange Things): In the southern regions, old maple trees develop human-shaped growths, also called spirit maples, which are actually tree burls. Tan Jingsheng Huashu (Book of Transformations): Old maple trees can transform into immortals; this is a case of an inanimate object becoming a sentient one. Also, Sun Yan states: Sheshe grows by the river; it has parasitic branches that are three or four feet high and covered in hair. It is also called fengzi. During times of drought, smearing it with mud will cause rain to fall. Also, pronounced bian. It has the same meaning. Also, pronounced fen. Zhang Heng, Xijing Fu (Rhapsody on the Western Capital): It is written: Among the trees are fir, juniper, hemp palm, nanmu, catalpa, scrub oak, yellow heartwood, and maple. Beautiful flowers and shrubs grow as lushly as the Deng forest (a legendary forest). Also, pronounced fan. Chu Ci (Verses of Chu), Zhao Hun (Summons of the Soul): It is written: Days follow nights and time does not linger; orchids cover the paths and the road has gone to waste; clear waters of the river flow, and on the banks stand the maple trees. Also, pronounced fan. Same as the character fan.