Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Character: Náo Kangxi Stroke Count: 20 Page 1321, Entry 01 Pronounced náo. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): A small gong. According to military regulations, the squad leader holds the nao. Yupian (Yupian): Resembles a bell without a tongue, used by the military. Shi Ming (Shiming): Nao, its sound is resonant. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Earth Official, Drummer: Use the metal nao to stop the drums. Commentary: The nao is like a bell, without a tongue, has a handle; one holds it to ring it, to stop the beating of the drums. It is also used in playing music. Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Music: Begin the performance with civil, conclude with martial. Commentary: Civil refers to the drum, martial refers to the metal instrument. When the nao music begins, one strikes the drum first; luan means to conclude. The sound of the drum is yang, hence it is called civil. The sound of the nao is yin, hence it is called martial. Use civil to start it, and martial to finish it; this means the rhythm is appropriate. Bogu Tu (Bogutu): There are two Han dynasty dance nao; their shape is round at the top and square at the bottom, with open lattice work at the base, and containing a copper ball inside, called a tongue drum; when moved, it makes a sound. Yuefu (Yuefu): There is the nao song, which is a genre of military drum and wind music. Also interchangeable with nao (náo). Book of the Later Han (Houhan Shu), Records of the Five Elements, Children's Rhymes: This year is still acceptable, the year after will be chaotic. Note: In the Fengsu Tong, it is written as nao (náo). Also pronounced nào, synonymous with nao (náo). Zhuangzi, Chapter on the Way of Heaven: There is nothing among the myriad things that can distract (nào) the heart. Textual verification: Rites of Zhou, Earth Official, Fengren. As per the original text, corrected to Drummer.