Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Leaf (yè) Neck Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1405, Entry 01 Pronounced jing Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): The stalk of the head. Explanation of Names (Shiming): The neck (jing) is the path (jing); it is upright and long. Guangyun: The neck is in the front, and the nape is in the back. Book of Rites (Liji): The head and neck must be centered. Also, the collar of any object is called a neck. Book of Rites (Liji): The top of the knee-cover (bi) is five inches. Note: The neck refers to the center part. Also, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Treatise on the Celestial Offices: The seven stars of the neck constitute the round official, governing urgent matters. Note: The seven stars form the neck, also known as the Celestial Capital; brilliance signifies good fortune, darkness signifies disaster. Song Jun states: The neck is the neck of the Vermilion Bird. Also, Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Offices, Record of Trades (Kaogongji), The Cart-Pole Maker: Divide the circumference of the socket into three parts and remove one to determine the circumference of the neck. Divide the circumference of the neck into five parts and remove one to determine the circumference of the heel. Note: The neck is the part that holds the crossbar in front; the heel is the part that supports the axle in the back. Also, Guangyun: Pronounced cheng. The meaning is the same. Textual research: In Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Treatise on the Celestial Offices, the text mentions the seven stars of the neck as the negative official; per the original text, this has been corrected to round official.