Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tree (mù) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 548, Entry 04 Pronounced nie. Meaning unstable. According to the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Record of Trades (Kaogongji), if the hub is small and long it is unstable; if large and short it is solid. The commentary by Zheng Xuan states that the term is read as nie, referring to the instability of the spokes. Also means to jam or wedge. According to the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Record of Trades (Kaogongji), if the felloe is shaped correctly, it will be secure without jamming. The commentary states that nie refers to jamming or obstructing. People in Shu call jamming nie. Also written in a variant form (nie). The commentary by Zheng Xuan notes that this is the ancient form of the character. According to the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Record of Trades (Kaogongji), when the master builder establishes a capital, he levels the ground and sets up a post to hang a plumb line. The sub-commentary explains that the post is a pillar. By hanging the plumb line, one measures the shadow of the pillar; to ensure the pillar is straight, one must hang a cord from the four corners and four sides of the pillar, so that the cord adheres to the pillar, indicating it is plumb. Also used interchangeably with nie. Refers to a door-post. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), it is mentioned that our carriages are well-prepared. The commentary states that a standard is wrapped in coarse cloth to create a gate, and a base is wrapped in fur to create a post. The Guliang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals (Guliang Zhuan), eighth year of Duke Zhao, states that a standard is set up to create a gate, and a base covered in vines is used to create a post. Based on this, the two characters are used interchangeably. Pronounced nie. Refers to a target base in archery. According to the Lesser Erya (Xiao Erya), stretching cloth for archery is called a target. The center of the target is called the target heart, the center of that is called the center mark, and the absolute center is called the nie. The Book of Odes (Shijing) mentions four arrows like trees; the sub-commentary explains that the nie is the target base. Pronounced nie. Refers to a wooden wedge.