You Collection, Middle Volume
Radical: Bean (dòu)
Character: qi
Kangxi strokes: 10
Page 1191, Entry 20
Pronounced qi.
According to the Explanation of Words and Phrases (Shuowen Jiezi), this refers to the music performed when an army returns victorious and reorganizes its ranks. It also expresses hope, desire, or the act of ascending or mounting.
Xu states: It is now used as a modal particle.
The Jade Chapter (Yupian) defines it as meaning stable, how, or where.
The Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun) states it indicates something that once was, or expresses surprise.
The Added Rhymes (Zengyun) defines it as a word indicating negation or disagreement.
Book of Documents (Shujing), Song of the Five Sons: Is resentment only found in obvious places?
Book of Odes (Shijing), Shao Nan: Is there no desire to travel day or night?
The Commentary (Zhuan) states: "Is it not," meaning that such a situation is indeed the case.
Also pronounced kai. This is synonymous with the characters for victory (kai) and joy (kai). It refers to music played after a military victory, or expresses joy and harmony. Note: In the classics and commentaries, the terms for victory songs, victory breezes, joy and harmony, and musical joy all borrowed this character. In ancient times, the characters for victory (kai), joy (kai), and this character shared the same pronunciation and meaning, but they have since been divided into two separate characters.
Dictionary of Characters (Zihui): The upper part of the character is derived from the omitted form of the character duan. The lower part under the mouth character is derived from the omitted form of the character bean. The common way of writing it with a mountain top is incorrect.
Essential Collection of Common Writing (Tongwen Juyao): The claim that this character is the same as the character for 'to carve' (kai) is also incorrect.
Textual research: The Explanation of Words and Phrases states: "Returning the army and playing music." We have carefully added the character for 'troops' (lv) after the character for 'shake' (zhen) according to the original text.
