Wei Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Meat (ròu) Kangxi Strokes: 14 Page 987, Entry 05 Pronounced fu (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): To rot. Guangyun (Guangyun): To decay; to spoil. Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling): In the last month of summer, rotted grass turns into fireflies. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes of the Kingdom (Xiaoya), No soaking firewood commentary: If soaked, it will become damp and rotten, and will not be fit for use. Also spelled fu-nuo (rotten and cowardly). History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Biography of Ying Bu: The Emperor held a banquet and, in front of the crowd, humiliated Sui He, calling him a rotten Confucian (fu-ru). Commentary: Shigu says: Rotten means spoiled and decayed, indicating one who is incapable and incompetent. Also, palace punishment is called fu. History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Annals of Emperor Jing (Jingdi): Those sentenced to death who wish to undergo the palace punishment (fu) are granted permission. Commentary: The palace punishment causes the wound to rot and smell, which is why it is called fu. Ru Chun says: Like rotten wood, it bears no fruit. Also pronounced bu. Name of an insect. Zhuangzi, Ultimate Joy (Zhile): The mu-rui insect is born from the fu-quan. Commentary: Fu is pronounced bu. Quan is pronounced quan. It is the name of an insect. Erya states: One name is shou-zhua, another name is fen-shu.