Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Gate (mén) 闢 Kangxi strokes: 21 Page 1342, Entry 10 Pronounced pi (falling tone). According to the Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters), the meaning is to open. The character is formed with the radical for gate, and the element pi serves as both the semantic and phonetic indicator. The Guangyun (Broad Rimes) defines it as to reveal. In the Book of Changes (Yijing), in the Appended Remarks (Xici), it is said, Its movement is opening. The commentary explains: Movement leads to the opening and creation of all things, hence it is said, Its movement is opening. Furthermore, it states, Opening a door is called qian (the creative). The commentary explains: This refers to the giving birth to all things, just as a room opens its door. In the Classic of History (Shujing), in the Canon of Shun (Shundian), it is recorded: Inquired of the four peaks, opened the four gates. The commentary explains: To open the gates in the four directions. In the Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan), in the second year of Duke Xuan, it is recorded: Upon arriving in the morning, the door to the bedroom was already opened. It also carries the meaning of to avoid or to clear a path. In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), in the Office of Heaven, regarding the gatekeepers, it is recorded: For all high-ranking officials and their consorts, whether arriving or departing, one shall clear a path for them. The commentary explains: To avoid the pedestrians so they remain undisturbed. The Explanatory Text (Shiwen) states: Pi here means to avoid. Additionally, in the Collected Rimes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is noted as pi (falling tone), sounding the same as the character for remote or unorthodox. In the Er Ya (Approaching Elegance), in the section on water, there is the phrase flowing rivers. The commentary defines this as to flow through. Furthermore, in the Correct Rimes (Zhengyun), it is also written as the variant form (pi). In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), in the text concerning the gatekeeper, the Explanatory Text (Shiwen) records: Pi is also written in some versions as the variant form (pi). The character form is also written with the gate radical containing the element for twenty.