Zi Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Person (rén). Character: lì. Kangxi Stroke Count: 21. Page: 121. According to the Broad Rimes (Guangyun) and Collected Rimes (Yunhui), the pronunciation sounds like lì. It means to be side-by-side or to form a pair. To run along with common people while having no internal standard of conduct in one's heart — Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi). It also appears in the term kànglì, referring to a spouse. Xi Chou seized the wife of the Shi clan. The woman said: Even birds and beasts do not lose their mates; what will you do? — Commentary of Zuo (Zuo Zhuan). Also from the same source: One who cannot protect their own spouse and lets them depart. It is commonly used interchangeably with the character pronounced lì. Also, the host thanks the guests with a bundle of silk and a pair of deer skins — Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili). Note: Two deer skins. In ancient texts, this character was written in the form pronounced lí. Also from the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial: When sending betrothal gifts, it is said: I have the rituals passed down by my ancestors, using a pair of deer skins and a bundle of silk, I send someone to request the acceptance of the marriage offerings. Also, according to the Collected Rimes (Jiyun), it is pronounced like lí. Explaining the Character (Shuowen Jiezi) states it refers to the appearance of flourishing branches. The Collected Rimes describes it as the appearance of tree branches. Textual Research: In the Commentary of Zuo, 11th year of Duke Cheng, for the line "cannot protect their own spouse and lets them depart," the character yǐ should be added before the word "cannot" in accordance with the original text.