Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Woman (nǚ) Page 254, Entry 22 Ancient script. Pronounced lü (rising tone). Pronounced ru (rising tone). According to the Guangya, the term woman implies compliance. It indicates that a woman should follow the teachings of men; the male nature of a person is called man, and the female nature is called woman. Book of Changes (Yijing): The way of the Earth (Kun) completes the woman. Book of Odes (Shijing): If a girl is born, let her sleep on the ground, wrap her in swaddling clothes, and give her a spindle shard to play with. Book of Rites (Liji): When a girl is born, hang a decorative cloth on the right side of the door. Huainanzi: Earth produces things according to their categories, and the essence of marshes produces women. Also, one who is married is called a wife (fu), and one who is not yet married is called a woman (nǚ). Book of Rites (Liji): A family marrying off a daughter does not extinguish the lamps for three nights, signifying the sorrow of imminent separation. Also the name of a constellation. The Xu constellation consists of four stars, governing cloth and silk, and serves as a repository for treasures; it is also known as the Wu constellation. In the twelfth month, it appears at dawn in the north; in the second month, it appears at dawn in the center of the sky. The Weaver (Zhinü) constellation consists of three stars, celestial maidens who govern fruits and silk; see the Star Canon (Xingjing) for details. Also a water name. Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing): Mount Yigao is the source of a river that flows east into the Jinu River. Also the Nü, who are the concubines of the nine heavens. The Yellow Emperor could not defeat Chiyou and, upon returning to Mount Tai, met a woman who identified herself as the aforementioned Nü; see the Tactics of the Nü (Nü Zhanfa) for details. Also the Golden Woman, who is the Queen Mother of the West; her surname is Gou, see the Record of Assembled Immortals (Jixianlu) for details. Also the Green Woman (Qingnü), the goddess of frost and snow; when the Earth's essence is stored in the third month of autumn, the Green Woman appears to bring down frost and snow; see the Huainanzi for details. Also the Chan Nü, referring to mercury in alchemy; the Chan Nü on the river will fly away upon encountering fire; see the Seal of the Unity of the Three (Cantongqi) for details. Also a country name. The Land of Women is located north of the Wuxian country. Guo Pu Commentary: The people of the Land of Women bathe in the Yellow River, and thus become pregnant; if they give birth to boys, they die. Also the Eastern Land of Women, where the female ruler is titled Binjiu; see the Book of Tang (Tangshu) for details. A thousand li east of Fusang lies a land of women, whose inhabitants are fair in appearance and possess body hair; see the Comprehensive Examination of Literature (Tongkao) for details. Also a surname. Nü Jiu and Nü Fang were virtuous ministers to Tang of Shang; Nü Dun was a virtuous man of the Han dynasty; Nü Shu Kuan was an official of the state of Jin. Additionally, in Sanskrit, the term Amo refers to a woman or a mother; Sufushili refers to a virtuous woman. Also, a parrot is called a Snow-Clad Woman; see the Biography of Emperor Wu of Han (Hanwu Waizhuan) for details. A magpie is called a Divine Woman; see the Ancient and Modern Records (Gujin Zhu) for details. A clam is called a Hanged Woman; see the Erya (Erya) for details. A mulberry caterpillar is called a Rong Woman; see the Mao Commentary on the Book of Odes (Maoshi Zhushu) for details. Also pronounced ru (rising tone). Equivalent to you (the pronoun). Also pronounced ni (falling tone). The act of giving a daughter in marriage to someone is called nǚ; see the Book of Documents (Shangshu) for details.