Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Rain (yǔ) Kangxi Strokes: 21 Page 1379, Entry 15 Pronounced pi. In the Jade Chapter (Yupian), it is written as pili. In the Literary Expositor (Erya), in the section on the interpretation of heaven, the commentary on thunderous sounds states: a rapid strike of thunder is known as pili. The sub-commentary states: The Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen) states that the phenomenon of zhen involves splitting and shaking objects. Rapid thunder is also known as tingni or zhen. The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu) recording that the temple of Yi Bo was struck by thunder refers to the splitting and destruction caused by pili. Pili is the common variant form. According to the Record of Animals and Plants (Piya), zhen is also called pili. Pi means to break; everything it passes through is broken or split. In the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is sometimes written as a variant form (pi). Additionally, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced pi. The meaning is the same. According to the Supplement to the Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui bu), another meaning is the name of a thunder deity.