Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tree (mù) Entry: Jia Kangxi Strokes: 17 Page 557, Entry 15 Pronounced jia (dipping tone) According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it is a type of catalpa tree. In the Commentary on the Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), in the eleventh year of Duke Ai, Wu Yuan said: Plant catalpa trees upon my grave. In the Commentary on the Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), in the third year of Duke Xiang, Mu Jiang requested to select beautiful catalpa trees. The Sub-commentary on the Er Ya (Erya Shu) cites this as jia (variant). The Commentary on the Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan Zhu) cites the previous mention of catalpa as jia. According to the Er Ya, Explanation of Trees (Erya Shi Mu), jia is a bitter tea. The commentary states: The tree is small, resembles a gardenia, is evergreen, and its leaves can be boiled to make a soup or drink. Today, those picked early are called tea, while those gathered late are called ming. Another name is chuan.