Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Enclosure (wéi) Ling Kangxi stroke count: 8 Page 218, Entry 02 Tang Dynasty Rhymes (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Meeting (Yunhui): Pronounced ling. Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi): The meaning is a prison. The character is formed with Enclosure as the radical and Order as the phonetic component. Xu Kai says: Ling is the same as the character for lattice, referring to the bars of a prison. Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling): During the second month of spring, the order is given for officials in charge to inspect the prisons. Sub-commentary (Shu): This refers to a prison. During the Qin Dynasty, it was called lingyu.