Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Wood (mù) Kangxi Strokes: 12 Page 532, Entry 21 According to the Compilation of Sounds (Jiyun), the Classified Dictionary (Leipian), and the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), the pronunciation is li (falling tone). According to the Compilation of Sounds (Jiyun), the plectrum used to play a pipa is called a li. It also refers to a latch or a mechanical trigger. According to the Extensive Records (Guangji), during the Tang dynasty, Han Zhihe carved wood into the shape of a phoenix or crane and placed a mechanical trigger inside its abdomen; when activated, it would fly. According to the Compilation of Sounds (Jiyun) and the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), the pronunciation is lie (entering tone). It is the name of a tree. According to the Materia Medica (Bencao), it is written in a variant form. It is effective for breaking up blood stasis. It also means to twist or to grasp. According to Han Yu’s Essay on Sending Away the Poverty Ghost (Song Qiong Wen): Grasping the hand to overturn the soup.