Si Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Water (shuǐ)
Kangxi Strokes: 9
Page 616, Entry 11
Ancient form written as the character for standing (fǎ) and the ancient form for law (fǎ).
Pronounced fa (falling tone).
Classic of Rites (Erya), Explanation of Terms: Law means constant.
Explanation of Names (Shiming): Law means to coerce. It means to coerce so that there are limits.
Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances: Then command the Grand Historian to guard the canons and uphold the law. Commentary: Law refers to the eight laws. It also refers to institutions.
Book of Rites (Liji), Summary of the Rules of Propriety: Carefully cultivate its laws and strictly implement them.
Also, ritual law.
Classic of Filial Piety (Xiaojing), Chapter on Ministers and High Officials: If it is not the ritual attire of the former kings, one does not dare to wear it.
Also, penal law.
Book of Documents (Shujing), Punishments of Lu: Only the creation of the five cruel punishments is called law.
Also, to represent or be a model.
The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons (Wenxin Diaolong), Chapter on Records: Extending constitutions and describing military strategies involves statutes, orders, and legal systems. Law means representation. Military strategy has no fixed form, yet the unorthodox and the orthodox have patterns; therefore, it is called law.
Also, to emulate or imitate.
Book of Changes (Yijing), Appended Statements: Exalt and emulate Heaven, humble oneself and follow the model of Earth.
Also, Zhi Fa (Officer of Law), name of a star.
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Commentary on the Treatise on the Celestial Offices: The first star to the east of the Duan Gate is the Left Zhi Fa, representing the Minister of Justice. The first star to the west of the Duan Gate is the Right Zhi Fa, representing the Censor-in-Chief.
Also, a surname.
Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Fa Xiong: A descendant of King Xiang of Qi, Fa Zhang.
Also, phonetically modified. Pronounced fu (entering tone).
Yangzi, Great Mystery (Taixuan Jing): The yang energy is suspended high, its law manifests; things look up to its ink-line, and none are not covered by its patterns.
Also, phonetically modified. Pronounced fei (falling tone).
Ouyang Xiu, Inscriptions: Grand and magnificent is the Bright Hall, ten thousand states follow the sacrifices; how could there be no ministers, acting as my law enforcers.
