Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Entry: Kun. Kangxi Stroke Count: 8. Page 226, Entry 14. Ancient form: Chuan. According to the Guangyun (Guangyun), pronounced kun. According to the Jiyun (Jiyun), Yunhui (Yunhui), and Zhengyun (Zhengyun), pronounced kun. The earth. According to the Explanation of Names (Shiming), it means to follow, as the earth follows heaven. According to the Book of Changes (Yijing), the name of a hexagram. According to the Commentary on the Images (Xiangzhuan), the configuration of the earth is kun. According to the Discussion of the Trigrams (Shuogua), kun is the earth. Also pronounced quan to rhyme. In the Immortal Rhapsody (Xianfu) by Huan Junshan, floating and drifting, rotating with heaven. Indulgent and non-acting, longevity reaches to the limits of heaven and earth. In the Rhapsody on Taking Sesame (Fu huma fu) by Su Shi, the supreme yang is radiant, originating from the earth. The supreme yin is solemn, ascending to the heaven. According to the Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen), it is composed of earth and shen. The position of earth is in shen. The ancient form was written as Chuan, representing the six broken lines of the kun hexagram. Also written as a variant form. The original character was written with jie below. The character is composed of a variant form. The character, anciently the word for noble.