Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Rain (yǔ) Ling; Kangxi stroke count: 24; Page 666, Entry 01 Ancient form of ling. Tang Rhyme (Tangyun), Collection Rhyme (Jiyun), and Rhyme Meeting (Yunhui) all state pronounced ling. Jade Chapters (Yupian): Divine spirit. Record of Rites by Dai the Elder (Dai Dai Liji): The essence of light is called spirit (shen), the essence of shadow is called ling. Book of Documents (Shujing), Great Oath (Taishi): Man is the spirit of all things. Commentary: Ling means spirit. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes (Daya): To display his spirit. Greater Odes (Daya), Lingtai Commentary: That which is the refined brightness of the spirit is called ling. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Yong (Yongfeng): The auspicious rain has fallen. Commentary: Ling means good. Broad Rhyme (Guangyun): Good fortune. Broad Rhyme (Guangyun): A shaman. Songs of Chu (Chuci), Nine Songs (Jiuge): Thinking of the shaman (lingbao) who is virtuous and beautiful. Lingfen, a master of divination in ancient times. Qu Yuan, Encountering Sorrow (Lisao): I wished to follow the auspicious divination of Lingfen. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Offices of Earth (Diguan), Drum Master: Used the ling drum to beat for the altar sacrifice. Commentary: The ling drum is a drum with six faces. Book of Rites (Liji), Tan Gong: Clay carriage and straw effigies (ling). Commentary: Straw effigies are bundles of reeds made into human shapes. Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan), Ninth Year of Duke Ding: Carried the congling. Commentary: Congling is the name of a luggage carriage. Songs of Chu (Chuci), Questions of Heaven (Tianwen): Where does the radiant spirit (yaoling) rest? Commentary: Radiant spirit is the sun. Yang Xiong, Fu on Hunting (Yueliefu): Hunting above the streamers of the three spirits. Commentary: Ru Chun states: The three spirits are the manifestations of the sun, moon, and stars. Broad Rhyme (Guangyun): Favor. Book of Rites (Liji), Evolution of Rites (Liyun): What are the four spiritual creatures? The unicorn, phoenix, tortoise, and dragon. Literary Expositor (Erya), Explanation of Fish (Shiyu): The second is the spiritual tortoise. Commentary: This is the current turtle with a pointed beak. Another name is the lingxi, which can make sound. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of the Tortoise Divination (Guicezhuan): Below is the fuling plant, above is the dodder. Posthumous Naming Methods (Shifa): Being chaotic but not damaging is ling; failing to be diligent but achieving fame is ling; dying with one's intent accomplished is ling; manifesting divine ability after death is ling; being fond of sacrificing to ghosts and monsters is ling; being extremely wise regarding spirits and ghosts is ling. Name of a prefecture. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of the Xiongnu: Dingling. Commentary: The Wei Lue states: Dingling is located north of Kangju. History of the Later Han (Houhan Shu), Biography of the Western Qiang: Attacked Lingchang at Ling Prefecture. Rhyme Meeting (Yunhui): Emperor Wu of Wei established Ling Prefecture, taking the name from Lingwu County. A surname. Broad Rhyme (Guangyun): Customs and Traditions (Fengsu Tong) states: A descendant of Duke Ling of Qi. Others say a descendant of the Song nobleman Ling Yu Gui. Also rhymes as lian (level tone). Daoist Canon Songs (Daozang Ge): The dark transformation has its own count, my truth follows nature. The wonderful music originates from the void, the palace and commercial notes bind the immortal spirit. Explanation of Writing (Shuowen): Originally written as the character for ling.