Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Dagger-axe (gē) Entry: 戌 Kangxi Stroke Count: 6 Page 411, Entry 04 Pronounced xu (falling tone). This is the name of the time period corresponding to the ninth month. Explaining the Characters and Writing (Shuowen Jiezi) interprets it as to extinguish. In the ninth month, the positive energy is weak, all things have reached maturity, and the positive energy descends into the earth. Within the Five Phases, earth is born from wu and reaches its peak at the xu time; the character form is composed of wu containing one. Former Book of Han (Qian Hanshu), Treatise on Harmonics and Calendrical Astronomy (Lüli Zhi) records: Everything enters the xu time. Approaching Elegance (Erya), Interpretation of the Heavens (Shitian) records: The year in which the Year Star is in xu is called yanmao.