You Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Shell (bèi) Kangxi Strokes: 11 Page 1205, Entry 01 Tang Rhymes (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui), Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced guan. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): Guan refers to the string used to tie together cowrie shells used as currency. History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Treatise on Food and Money: In the capital, money accumulated to millions, and the strings used to tie the coins rotted away, making them impossible to count. Also, Guangya (Boya): To pierce through. Text of the Five Classics (Wujing Wenzi): That which has been pierced through is called guan. Book of Changes (Yi), Bo Hexagram: Stringing fish. Explication of the Text (Shiwen): Guan means to pierce. History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Biography of Dong Zhongshu: Is this not one thread running through the whole? Annotation: Guan means to connect and pierce through. Also refers to hitting a target. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Archery Rites of the Local Communities: One does not put down the counting chips unless one hits the target. Annotation: Guan is the same as hitting the target. Also, Guliang Commentary (Guliang Zhuan), 19th Year of Duke Zhao: Binding hair to form a youth. Annotation: Jiguan refers to crossing and cutting the hair for decoration. Also, Book of Jin (Jinshu), Biographies of Men of Letters: To esteem those scholars and together surpass the pure and noble offices. Zhengzitong: Offices of the attendant class are called qingguan (pure officials). Also, a surname. Emergency Manual of Surnames (Xingshi Jijiu Pian): Guan Gao, the Chancellor of Zhao. Ancient Sounds Summary (Guyin Lue): The guan in Guan Gao is pronounced like guan (official). Also, Guangya (Boya): To accumulate. Also, Repository of Rhymes (Yunfu): Benguan refers to one's ancestral place of registration. Also, a state name. Geography of the Broad Territory (Kuodizhi): The former Guan City is the ancient state of Guan, located in Jiyin County, Cao Prefecture. Also, Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Wei: For three years I have served you. Commentary: Guan means to serve. Explication of the Text (Shiwen): Pronounced luan (falling tone). Note: Zhu Xi in his Collected Commentaries on the Book of Odes (Shijizhuan) states: Guan means habit. Pronounced the same as guan (habit). Also, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced guan (falling tone). Guan (habit) is also written as guan. Erya (Erya), Explanations of Words: Guan means habit. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Qi: Skilled in archery. Explication of the Text (Shiwen): Mao Heng's annotation pronounces it luan (falling tone), meaning to hit the target. Zheng Xuan's annotation pronounces it guan (falling tone), meaning habit. History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Biography of Jia Yi: Habit becomes nature. Annotation: Yan Shigu says: Guan also means habit. Also, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced wan. Wan (to bend) is also written as guan. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Wu Zixu: Pulling the bow to the full and holding the arrow while facing the envoy. Also, Guangyun (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui): Pronounced guan. The meaning is the same. Note: In the Shuowen Jiezi, the character pronounced like guan is defined as holding an object through which something is pierced. Since that character and guan are interchangeable, in the classics, guan is also pronounced as guan.