Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) 23 strokes Page 1070, Entry 11 Pronounced lan. Shuowen Jiezi (Analytical Dictionary of Characters): A fragrant herb. Lu Dian states: It is called lan (orchid) because it blocks (lan) other plants; to block is inauspicious. Lu Ji in the Commentary on the Book of Odes (Shijing) states: Its stems resemble the medicinal herb water hemp, with broad leaves and long nodes. During the Han dynasty, it was planted in palace pools and gardens as well as in the palace at Xuchang. Book of Changes (Yijing), Xici: Words spoken with one heart have a fragrance like that of the orchid. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), Year 3 of Duke Xuan: Concubine Yan Ji of Duke Wen of Zheng dreamed that heaven bestowed upon her an orchid and said: The orchid has a fragrance that can topple a state, and those who wear it will be loved. Qu Yuan, Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow): Braided the autumn orchids to serve as a pendant. Erya Yi (Expanded Annotations of the Erya): An orchid is defined as one that bears a single flower on a stem with a rich fragrance. Also, Mulan (Magnolia): Qu Yuan, Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow): At dawn, I go to pluck magnolias on the hillsides. Also, Guanzi, Xiaokuang Chapter: For light offenses, the penalty shall be a lan shield, leather armor, and two halberds. Annotation: Lan refers to what is known as a lanqi (weapon rack). Also refers to veins or meridians. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Bian Que: When yang energy invades the yin regions, those whose meridians and internal organs are connected may survive. Annotation: Zhi refers to longitudinal vein nodes, and lan refers to transverse vein nodes. Yin zhi lan refers to the gallbladder organ. Also a name for cloth. Huayang Guozhi (Chronicles of Huayang): Lan-gan fine cloth. Lan-gan in the language of the Liao people means hemp cloth. Also a person's name. Liezi, Shuofu Chapter: There was a man in the state of Song called Lanzi. Zhang Kan Annotation: Those who do not know the fundamentals of things are called lan. Yin Jingshun states: In the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), entering or exiting without a tally or credential is called lan. Here, Lanzi refers to someone who travels recklessly relying on tricks, with the same meaning as lan (to obstruct). Also a surname. Tongzhi (Comprehensive Treatises), Clan Record Section: There was a governor named Lan Guang during the Han dynasty. Also huan-lan: Book of Han (Hanshu), Biography of Xifu Gong: Tears streaming down, huan-lan. Annotation: Huan-lan describes the appearance of tears flowing copiously. Also wan-lan: Yangzi, Taijing (Great Mystery): When yang energy approaches the heavens, all things are wan-lan. Annotation: Wan-lan describes a lush and dense appearance. Also interchangeable with lan (fence). Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu), Biographies of the Eastern Barbarians: Migrated to Ma-lan. Annotation: Lan here is the same as lan (fence). Also interchangeable with lan (variegated). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Biography of Sun Quan: The children's rhyme sang: Golden carriage, variegated (lan) ears. Also pronounced lian. Song Yu, Zhao Hun (Summons of the Soul): The winding rivers and valleys flow with a murmuring sound, the gentle breeze blows and the thoroughwort sways among the clustered orchids, passing through the hall and entering the inner chamber, dust falling upon the red mats.