Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Gu Kangxi stroke count: 16 Page 1312, Entry 11 Tang Rhymes (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui), and Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced gu. Shuowen Jiezi: To cast and plug. Xu states: To cast copper or iron in order to seal something. Biography of Liu Xiang in the Book of Han (Hanshu): Although one might seal off the Southern Mountain, there are still ways through. Commentary: Gu means to block or seal. Also, Commentary on Yang's Dialects (Fangyan): Gu means to be firm or solid. Also, Guangyun: A prohibition (jinggu), or a heavy imprisonment. Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan), Second Year of Duke Cheng: Zifan requested to use heavy offerings to restrain him. Commentary: To restrain him and forbid him from serving in office. Commentary on the Biography of Partisan Prohibitions in the Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu): This refers to blocking his path to official advancement. Also, Biography of Jia Yi in the Book of Han (Hanshu): If we do not govern it now, it will surely become a chronic illness (guji). Commentary: A deep-seated and persistent illness. Commonly written as the variant form (gu). Frequently used interchangeably with the character for solid (gu).