Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) 13 strokes Page 440, Entry 05 Pronounced jian. Same as the character meaning to select or choose. It refers to selecting, choosing, and making distinctions. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Biography of Yuan Shao: To be broad-minded and tolerant of the masses, with nothing to select or choose. Lost Book of Zhou (Yishoushu): To form factions and engage in self-serving activities without making careful selections. Old Book of Tang (Jiu Tangshu), Annals of Emperor Yizong: The frontiers are not yet stable and there is a great need for talent; one should order the regional defense commissioner of Xu and Si to select and recruit three thousand government soldiers to go to Yongguan to station and guard the territory. It also carries the meaning of weeding out or selecting. Zhang Lei, Poem Presented to Wujiu: Polish your ancient bronze vessels, and weed out or select those that bear witness to clear discernment. It is also commonly written in a variant form. Also pronounced lian. The meaning is the same. Sometimes also written in a variant form.