Yin Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Child (zǐ) Kangxi stroke count: 4 Page 277, Entry 09 Ancient script. Pronounced kong (rising tone). As defined in the Analytical Dictionary of Chinese Characters (Shuowen Jiezi): Meaning to penetrate. Composed of the character for a bird and the character for child. The bird character represents a bird that gives birth to offspring. When the bird arrives and produces offspring, it is considered auspicious and beautiful. Therefore, the ancients named the auspicious character Kong. Also means very or great. From the Book of Odes (Shijing): Virtue and reputation are very bright. From the Book of Documents (Shujing): The Nine Rivers are in great order. Commentary: Meaning strictly in order. It indicates that the water routes are very much in their proper place. Also means a hole or aperture. From the Er Ya (Erya): Kong means a gap. Commentary: Meaning a space. From the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Official, Artificer's Record: Observe the hole drilled and examine its straightness. From the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals of Shun: He hid in a side exit of the hole. Commentary: The character for empty is the same as Kong. Also means empty or open. From the Laozi, Classic of the Way and Virtue (Daodejing): The form of great virtue follows only the Way. Commentary: Meaning that emptiness is capable of containing things. From the Yangzi, Great Mystery (Taixuanjing): The great path is smooth. Commentary: Great path refers to an open thoroughfare. Also a type of bird. From the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing): In the south, there are many Kong crows. Also a surname. From the Guang Yun (Guangyun): Descendants of Tang of Shang. Originally, the mother of Xie, who was a descendant of Emperor Ku, swallowed a bird egg and gave birth to Xie; he was granted the surname Zi. By the time of King Tang of Shang, because his ancestor was born after swallowing a bird egg, he was named Li and styled Taiyi. Later generations added the character for child to the character for bird, which became the Kong surname. When Kongfu Jia of the Song state encountered the catastrophe caused by Huafudu, his son fled to the Lu state, which is why Confucius was born in Lu.