Si Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Fire (huǒ) Page 682, Entry 21 Pronounced jiao. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters) defines it as an object used to hold burning embers. Yupian (Jade Chapters) defines it as a torch. Also, according to Guangyun (Broad Rhymes), it carries the meaning of being scorched by fire. Book of Rites (Liji), Inner Rules: "Take a pair of dog livers, wrap them in the omentum of a dog, moisten them, and roast them. When lifting them, roast the outer fat until it is scorched yellow, without adding water-pepper." Classical Explanation (Shiwen): The character jiao is also written in the variant form jiao. Pronounced jiao. Guanzi (The Master Guan), Seven Ministers and Seven Lords Chapter: "Great fires burn fiercely, the land is scorched and withered, and the wild grasses are consumed." Book of Former Han (Qian Hanshu), Biography of Huo Guang: "Those whose heads were scorched and foreheads burned became honored guests." Also, Book of Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Zhu Fu: "Those above and below were all anxious as if burning." Note: The two meanings above are synonymous with the character jiao. Pronounced qiao. Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes) defines it as the wooden sticks used for scorching tortoise shells. Book of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Officials, Zhui Shi: "In charge of supplying the burning wood and chisels for scorching tortoise shells, in preparation for divination matters." Annotation: Du Zichun says: "Jiao is read like the jiao in ximu jiao. Some say it is like the qiao in xinyao qiao. It refers to the wooden sticks used for scorching tortoise shells, hence it is called qiao. The term qi refers to the chisels used to drill into the tortoise shells." Classical Explanation (Shiwen): Pronounced jiao. Pronounced jiao. Refers to the torch used for scorching tortoise shells. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Yan Li (Banquet Rites) Annotation: Interpreted as "scorching with a torch." Classical Explanation (Shiwen): Pronounced jiao. Pronounced zhuo. Book of Rites (Liji), Lesser Rules: "The host holds a lit candle, while simultaneously carrying an unlit reserve torch." Annotation: An unlit torch is called jiao. Classical Explanation (Shiwen): Pronounced zhuo. Pronounced jue. Book of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Officials, Jiaoqi Annotation: "The tun wood produced in Chu is placed on the jiao fire, located to the east of the tortoise shell. The Chu tun is the qi, which is the tool used for scorching the tortoise. The jiao refers to the torch used to preserve the embers." Sub-commentary: Du Zichun reads both the characters jiao and qiao according to common usage, sounding like the qiao in chaiqiao. Zheng Xuan, who came later, did not adopt this reading, but followed the pronunciation jue. This draws upon the meaning of the jue fire in the Zhuangzi, which refers to a faint, small flame. Classical Explanation (Shiwen): Pronounced jue. Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes): This character was originally written as jue. Sometimes written as jue or lian. See the entry for jue for detailed notes. Pronounced shao. Originally written as zhuo. See the entry for zhuo for detailed notes. Pronounced ji. Also a torch used for scorching tortoise shells. Pronounced ji. Refers to a torch made of thorn branches held in the hand and lit to scorch tortoise shells.