Hai Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Bone (gǔ) Kangxi stroke count: 10 Page 1447, Entry 25 Pronounced hu (entering tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Dictionary of Graphic Analysis): The core of flesh. Shi Ming (Explanation of Names): Bone, meaning slippery. Bone is hard yet smooth and moist. Lingshu Jing (Spiritual Pivot): The kidneys govern the bones, relax the tendons and vessels, and generate marrow to support the body. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Section on Official Affairs, Physician of Diseases: Use sour flavors to nourish the bones. Commentary: Sour is the flavor of wood; tree roots stand in the earth similar to how bones stand in the body. Sub-commentary: This means that like the human skeleton standing within the flesh. Liezi, Chapter on Heavenly Portents: The spirit belongs to the heavenly aspect. The skeleton belongs to the earthly aspect. That which belongs to the heavens is clear, light, and disperses. That which belongs to the earth is heavy, turbid, and coagulates. Also refers to the bones of sacrificial animals. Book of Rites (Liji), Records of Sacrificial Rites: In all preparations of sacrificial offerings, the bone is the primary substance. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Commentary on the Ritual of Village Archery: Using the bone to name the meat is because the bone is precious. Also a surname. Book of Sui (Suishu), Biography of Gu Yi: Gu Yi was a native of Chang'an in Jingzhao. Also, Book of Tang (Tangshu), Record of the Eastern Barbarians: In the Silla Kingdom, the people had titles of First Bone and Second Bone to distinguish their social status. Also, ku gu (bitter bone), a variant name for the sophora root. Also, duo gu (many bones), a variant name for the white bean. Found in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu).