Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) Character: Fang Kangxi Stroke Count: 10 Page 918, Entry 01 Pronounced fang (rising tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to spinning silk. According to the Extensive Dictionary of Rhymes (Guangyun), it refers to spinning thread. According to the Commentary on the Emergency Literacy Reader (Jijiu Pian Zhu), it refers to the spinning of hemp or silk fibers into threads or cord. According to the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), in the chapter on the rites of visiting, it refers to the use of bundles of spun silk as gifts. The commentary notes that this refers to silk spun into thread, similar to what is now called binding. According to the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), in the nineteenth year of Duke Zhao, it is mentioned that he entrusted himself to the state of Jizhang and spun there. The sub-commentary explains that this means spinning hemp into thread. Also mentioned in the Discourses of Jin (Jinyu), where Xianzi held it and spun it on the locust tree in the courtyard. The commentary notes that here, to spin means to hang up. Textual verification: In the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial, chapter on the rites of visiting, the original text reads bundles of spun silk. The text has been corrected to read bundles of spun silk instead of official spun silk in accordance with the original source.