Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Character: Huo Kangxi strokes: 22 Page 1325, Entry 03 Pronounced huo. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): To engrave. Derived from Metal, with huo acting as the phonetic. Guangyun (Guangyun): A cauldron (dinghuo). Zengyun (Zengyun): A type of cooking vessel. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Spring, Officer of Cooking: In charge of providing cauldrons and vessels. Commentary: The huo is an implement used for boiling meat and dried fish. History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Treatise on Law: There are punishments involving drilling the crown, extracting ribs, and boiling in a cauldron. Commentary by Yan Shigu: A large, tripod-less vessel is called a huo, used for boiling people. Also rhymes with mai, pronounced huo. Liu Zongyuan, Censure of Faults (Chengjiu Fu): Advancing or retreating, I have nowhere to return; the sweet fat moistens the cauldron. Fortunately, the Emperor clearly pardons, and I bear the commandery seal as I move south. Textual Research: In the commentary by Yan Shigu, the text states a large, tripod-less vessel is called a huo, used for boiling people. Note that in the History of the Former Han, the commentary uses the character yu, which is synonymous with zhu (to boil), though they differ in pronunciation and meaning. Based on the original text, I have corrected the character to yu.