You Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Carriage (chē)
Quan
Kangxi strokes: 13
Page 1243, Entry 01
Pronounced quan.
According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to the low wheels under a carriage used for transport. Another definition states it refers to a wheel without spokes, made by hewing straight wood, similar to a mallet wheel. It is also used interchangeably with the character meaning to weigh or measure. In the Outer Objects chapter of the Zhuangzi, it is used in the phrase followers of petty talent (quan cai) and glib talkers. The commentary explains that quan refers to measuring the character of people, while another interpretation suggests that petty talent (quan cai) refers to small talent. It is also used interchangeably with the character for a round wheel; see the entry for that character later in the dictionary.
Additionally, pronounced chun. Used interchangeably with a character referring to the bindings of a carriage.
Textual research: The Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) states it is the low wheel of a transport carriage. Another definition says it is a wheel without spokes. It is made by hewing straight wood, like a mallet wheel. According to the original text, the phrasing has been corrected to read as a wheel without spokes, and hewing straight wood.