Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Field (tián) Ji Kangxi stroke count: 15 Page 766, Entry 08 Pronounced qi. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), the territory of the Son of Heaven extends one thousand li; in terms of proximity and distance, this is called ji. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Zhou: The royal domain (bangji) spans one thousand li. The Commentary states: Ji means a boundary. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Ministry of Earth, Lesser Director of the Multitude: The nine ji. The Sub-commentary states: Outside the royal domain, there are still the nine ji, referring to the six services of hou, dian, nan, cai, wei, and yao, and the three outer services of yi, zhen, and fan; these nine ji exist on all four sides, each separated by five hundred li. Corrected Meaning of Characters (Zhengzitong): In ancient times, the royal state extending one thousand li was called the royal ji. From there outward, every five hundred li constituted one ji, totaling the nine ji across the world, thus it was generally considered that one square thousand li formed one ji. Also, the area within a gate is called ji. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Wei: It is not far, I escort you to the ji. The Commentary states: Ji means inside the gate. Also, a limit or threshold. Increased Rhymes (Zengyun): A door sill. Han Yu poetry: White stone for the door threshold. Also sometimes written as qi. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), 25th Year of Duke Xiang: The land of the Son of Heaven is one qi. The Note states: A boundary or limit. It should be written as ji. Textual Research: Zuo Commentary, 26th Year of Duke Xiang says one qi. According to the original text, 26th year has been changed to 25th year.