Shen Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Grass (cǎo)
Han
Kangxi Strokes: 14
Page 1038, Entry 22
Tang Rhyme (Tangyun): Pronounced han (rising tone).
Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen): Handan (lotus bud).
Xu says: Han means to contain, representing the state before the flower has bloomed or opened.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Chen: On the banks of that pool, there are rushes and lotus buds.
Approaching the Classics (Erya), Explanation of Plants: The lotus is called Fuqu, and its flower is called Handan.
Note: The Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen) writes this as a different character. The Correct Forms of the Six Writings (Liushu zhenge) states that writing it as Han is a vulgar form and is incorrect. However, an examination of the classical literature shows that it is always written as Han; the argument in The Correct Forms of the Six Writings (Liushu zhenge) is too pedantic.