Shen Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Grass (cǎo)
蓼
Kangxi strokes: 17
Page 1053, Entry 02
Pronounced liao (rising tone).
Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters): A pungent vegetable.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Zhou Odes: I have gathered at the smartweed.
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), Commentary on Names: Smartweeds have properties that are all flighty, hence the character is formed with the component for high flight.
Also a state name. Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), Fifth Year of Duke Wen: The Viscount of Chu exterminated Liao.
Commentary: The state of Liao is present-day Liao County in Anfeng.
Also a river name. Commentary on the Water Classic (Shuijing Zhu): The Liao River emerges from Liao Valley in Xiang Mountain.
Also a pavilion name. Commentary on the Water Classic (Shuijing Zhu): The Zhang River flows southeast past Liao Pavilion.
Also a surname. Qianfu Lun (Discourses of the Hidden Man): Both the Ju and Liao clans are descendants of Gao Yao.
Pronounced lao (rising tone).
Jiu liao, meaning to search.
Zhang Heng, Western Metropolis Rhapsody (Xijing Fu): Twisting and searching, surging and rolling.
Pronounced liu (entering tone).
Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: Long and tall are the smartweeds.
Commentary: Liao liao means tall and grown.
Also from the Former Han (Qianhan), Commentary on Sima Xiangru's Biography: Pronounced liu (rising tone). Jiu liao means to pull each other.
Adult Rhapsody (Daren Fu): Twisting and pulling, shouting and arrogant.
Also Comprehensive Mirror (Tongjian): Marquis of Liao, Kong Zang.
Shi Zhao, Explanatory Text (Shiwen): Liao is pronounced liu (entering tone).
Hu Sansheng stated: Lu Deming's Classic Explanatory Text (Jingdian Shiwen) provides the pronunciation liao (rising tone) and has never recorded the liu (entering tone) pronunciation; Shi Zhao is mistaken.
Jade Chapters (Yupian): Also written as the variant form.
Peixi Ji (Collection of Clarifying Ambiguities): Commonly written as the variant form. The character Liao is written with the lower component as the variant form.
