Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Ear (ěr) Kangxi stroke count: 17 Page 969, Entry 01 Pronounced lian. Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) states: The meaning is to connect. The character structure uses Ear because ears are connected to the cheeks; it also uses Silk to represent something continuous like a silk thread. Zhang Heng, Thinking of the Profound (Sixuan Fu): Colorful and continuous, blurred and indistinct. Lu Ji, Literary Exposition (Wenfu): Elegant phrases follow one after another, like a bird struck by an arrow tethered with a silk string, falling from the high layered clouds. Also refers to officials working in collaboration within government offices. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Heaven, Grand Administrator: Manage the government offices using eight rules, the third of which is government association (guan lian), used to bring officials together to handle administrative affairs collectively. Commentary: Lian is pronounced like lian. It means that matters are connected, duties are linked, and there is mutual assistance. Also refers to joining or uniting. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Earth, Grand Minister of Instruction: Use six traditional customs to ensure the people dwell in peace, the third of which is uniting brothers (making brothers live in harmony and affection). Commentary: Lian means to join together. Also, Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Earth, Clan Master (administrative organization regulations): Five families make a bi, ten families make a lian. Five people make a wu, ten people make a lian. Four lv make a zu, eight lv make a lian. Also in Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), pronounced lian. The meaning is continuous and uninterrupted.