Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Jade (yù) 20 Kangxi strokes Page 744, Entry 36 Pronounced qiong. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Writing and Analysis of Characters) defines it as red jade. Book of Odes (Shijing), Wei Feng: "Sent me a papaya, I repaid with a qiong ju (fine jade)." Commentary: Qiong refers to beautiful jade. Yunhui (Collection of Rhymes): The Qian family states: The Book of Odes speaks of jade as qiong many times. Qiong hua, qiong ying, qiong ying, qiong yao, qiong ju, and qiong jiu all refer to the beauty of the jade color, not the name of the jade itself. Xu Shuchong claims: Qiong is red jade. However, the qiong jiu mentioned in the papaya ode involves jiu, which is black jade. Therefore, it is not red. Yupian (Jade Chapters): A tree made of accumulated stone is named the qiong branch. It is one hundred and twenty ren (a unit of measure) high and thirty spans in circumference; it is treasured because it is made of lang gan (a type of precious stone). History of the Former Han Dynasty (Qian Hanshu), Biography of Sima Xiangru: Chewing the flower of the mushroom and consuming the qiong splendor. Zhang Yi's Commentary: The qiong tree grows on the western banks of the shifting sands of the Kunlun Mountains; it is three hundred spans in circumference and ten thousand ren high, representing the essence of flowers. Eating it leads to immortality. Also a name. Gujin Zhu (Commentary on Past and Present): Among the favorite palace ladies of Emperor Wen of Wei, there were Mo Qiongshu, Xue Yelai, Tian Shangyi, and Duan Qiaoxiao; these four were at his side day and night. Also a prefecture name. During the Han Dynasty, it was the Zhuya Commandery. During the Tang Dynasty, it was split to establish Qiong Prefecture. Pronounced xuan. Same as xuan (a type of beautiful stone). Rhyme Supplement: Rhymes with qiang. Chu Ci (Songs of Chu), Invitation to the Soul: Whetstone rooms and kingfisher ornaments, hanging curved qiong. Covered in kingfisher and pearl quilts, glowing with uniform light.