Si Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Water (shuǐ) Entry: Ou Kangxi strokes: 15 Page 646, Entry 03 Pronounced ou (falling tone). According to the Shuo Wen Jiezi (Shuowen), to soak for a long period of time. Book of Odes (Shijing), Chen Airs: At the pool by the east gate, one may soak hemp. Commentary: Ou means to make soft. Correct Meaning: The commentary on the Records of Craftsmen (Kaogongji) states that ou means to soak gradually. The people of Chu refer to this as ou. Here, ou refers to the process of soaking gradually to make something soft and pliable. Also, ou yu refers to a rich, dense fragrance. Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park (Shanglin fu): Fragrant and rich. Sometimes written in the variant form wo (wò). Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Officers, Records of Craftsmen: To soak the silk until it is pure. Note: Wo is the same as ou. Pronounced ou. A bubble on water. Surangama Sutra (Lengyan jing): The void is born within the Great Awakening, like a single bubble in the sea. Also functions as ou (a kind of gull). Liezi, Yellow Emperor Chapter: There was a man by the sea who liked the gull birds.