You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Fang Kangxi strokes: 11 Page 1150, Entry 01 Pronounced fang (falling tone). According to the Explanation of Writing (Shuowen Jiezi), to consult broadly is called fang. Xu Shen notes that this refers to inquiring of people extensively. According to the Approach to Elegance (Erya), it means to plan. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), it means to inquire. In the Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the section Great Plan (Hongfan), the king went to inquire of Jizi. The commentary explains that this refers to going to ask him. In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), specifically the Spring Officials section, it mentions receiving and presenting proposals to the king to assist in managing state affairs. The commentary notes this refers to offering schemes to the king. It also carries the meaning of deliberation. In the Discourses of the States (Chu Yu), it mentions instructing him in the laws, allowing him to deliberate and understand the affairs of the hundred officials. The commentary notes that fang means to deliberate, and wu refers to affairs; thus, it means to deliberate and understand the business of the various offices. Additionally, according to the Augmented Rhymes (Zengyun), it has the sense of involving or meeting. According to the Collection of Characters (Zihui), it means to visit. It also carries the meaning of just now. In the History of the Former Han (Qian Hanshu), specifically the Biography of the Five Kings of the Gao Period, it states that due to the Lu clan, the world was nearly thrown into chaos. The commentary notes that fang here is the same as the word meaning just. According to the Supplement to the Collection of Characters (Zihui Bu), it shares the same meaning as the character fang (meaning beginning or dawn). It also refers to a title of office. In the History of the Liao (Liaoshi), specifically the Treatise on the Hundred Officials, it is recorded that in the third year of the Huitong era of Emperor Taizong, he ordered Gu Lin to serve as a Censor of Investigation. It also serves as a surname. During the Tang dynasty, there was a scholar named Fang Shi. According to the Mastery of Characters (Zhengzitong), it is also pronounced fang (rising tone) with the same meaning. The Collection of Characters adheres strictly to the phonetic reading in the Explanation of Writing, where Sun Mian records it as the sound of the word for storehouse, reading it entirely in the falling tone, which is incorrect. According to the Sea of Characters (Pianhai), it is also written in a variant form.