Mao Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Dipper (dǒu) Jia Kangxi Dictionary stroke count: 12 Page 478, Entry 16 Pronounced jia (rising tone). According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it is a wine goblet made of jade. The character structure is composed of kou and dou, with the character jiong in the center. It is a pictographic character, and its creation intent is similar to that of the character jue. Some say that a jia holds six sheng. The Book of Odes (Shijing), Deya section, mentions cleaning the wine goblets and setting the jia in place. The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Offices, Ministry of Sacrificial Vessels, records that during sacrifices, the jia vessel and the huang vessel were used to hold wine for libation rituals. The Book of Rites (Liji), Mingtangwei, records wine vessels, noting that the Xia dynasty used the zhan, the Shang dynasty used the jia, and the Zhou dynasty used the jue. The commentary explains that the jia was painted with grain patterns. The Collection of Character Rectifications (Zhengzitong) explains that the shape of its two pillars intersecting resembles grain, which is why it is called jia. Also pronounced jia (falling tone). The meaning is the same. Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) points out that the common variant is written as jia, which is incorrect.