Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Jade (yù) Mao Kangxi stroke count: 14 Page 736, Entry 15 In ancient texts: Pronounced mao (falling tone). As stated in the Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Single-component Characters and Analyzing Compound Characters): When feudal lords hold their jade scepters (gui) to have an audience with the Son of Heaven, the Emperor holds a piece of jade to cover them, resembling a plowshare. Xu Kai states: The term mao refers to an object placed above another to cover it. The plowshare is the blade of a plow. Modern dictionaries write it as a compound character, sharing the same sound and meaning. According to the Zhengzitong (Correction of Character Dictionary): In the rituals, when a feudal lord assumes his position, the Son of Heaven bestows upon him an appointment scepter. The top of the scepter is slanted and sharp, while the mao is four inches square. Its lower part is also slanted and carved, matching the width, narrowness, length, and shortness of the scepter head. When the feudal lord holds his scepter during an audience, the Emperor uses the carved part of the mao to cover the head of the scepter to verify the credentials, similar to matching a tally. Also commonly written as mao. As recorded in the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), section Winter Offices, Records of Tradesmen (Kaogongji): The Son of Heaven holds a mao of four inches. The commentary states: The jade is named mao because virtue can cover the world. The four-inch measurement signifies that for high status, smaller is more precious. Also, pronounced mai (falling tone). The meaning is the same. Also, pronounced mei (falling tone). The hawksbill sea turtle, a type of turtle. Its body resembles a turtle, its head and tail are like a parrot, and its shell has patterns. According to the Yiwuzhi (Record of Strange Things): It lives in the South Sea. Large ones are as big as a large woven mat. Its back has scales, and the scales are as large as a fan with designs. When used to make utensils, the scales are boiled until they become soft like leather. Ying Shao states: The male is called daimao, and the female is called zixi. As mentioned in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Sima Xiangru: Hawksbill turtle, soft-shelled turtle, and giant turtle. The commentary states: It resembles the zixi, has a patterned shell, originates from the South Sea, and can be used to decorate utensils. In the Han Dynasty collection of musical lyrics (Han Naoge): Hairpins made of twin pearls and hawksbill shell, bound with jade. Also, pronounced mao (falling tone). The meaning is the same. Also written as a variant form (mao). Also written as (mao).