Hai Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Neat (qí) Page 1531, Entry 01 Ancient form: Written as the character representing the grain, a variant of this radical (qí). Pronounced qi (rising tone) According to the Explanations of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi): Refers to the level appearance of grain and wheat ears as they sprout. Xu Kai states: There is nothing that sprouts more evenly than grain and wheat. Also means to arrange or order. Means without partiality or bias. From the Book of Xunzi (Xunzi), chapter on enriching the state: One must cultivate ritual to order the court, rectify the law to order the officials, and balance administration to order the people. Note: Here, it means to regulate. Also means to equate or equalize. From the History of the Former Han (Qian Hanshu), treatise on food and money: Children of wealthy families sometimes fight chickens, race dogs and horses, or hunt and gamble, disrupting the egalitarian people. Note: Ru Chun states: It means to equalize. Without distinction between noble and lowly, they are called equalized people. Also means dignified or solemn. From the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals (Zuo Zhuan), second year of Duke Wen: Even if you are dignified and saintly, do not eat before your father. Note: Here it means solemn. Also means upright. From the Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: The dignified and saintly man. Note: One who is centered, upright, and insightful. Zhu Xi’s commentary says: It means solemn. Also, according to the Literary Expositor (Erya), dictionary of explanations: It means center. The commentary on the explanation of geography says: From the center of the region southward. The sub-commentary says: It means the center. The central region is called the central state. The central state is the same as saying the Middle Kingdom. From the Book of Liezi (Liezi), Yellow Emperor chapter: The country of Huaxu, I do not know how many millions of miles it is from this central state. Note: It means the center. Also, according to the Extensive Dictionary (Guangyun): Means good. Also means to distinguish. From the Book of Changes (Yijing), commentary on the appended phrases: Small and large are distinguished within the hexagrams. Note: It means to distinguish. Also means fast. From the Literary Expositor (Erya): Fast and steady is robust. Note: It means speed. From the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), annals of the five emperors: Young and quick-witted. Note: Xun means fast, qi means speed, saying the sage was quick and swift from youth. Also, a name of a state. The land granted by King Wu to the Grand Duke; today it corresponds to Qingzhou, Jinan, Weixian, and Anle in Shandong province. Also, Ganqi, a county name. Belonged to Jiuquan Commandery. See the History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), treatise on geography and commandery. Also a surname. From the preface to the Customs and Traditions (Fengsu Tong): Four surnames, such as those from the states of Qi, Lu, Song, and Wei. Also, Fang Qi, the name of a minister to Emperor Yao. Also, in the system of posthumous titles: One who holds their heart with great solemnity is called Qi. One who assists with reverence is called Qi. Also interchangeable with the character for navel. From the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), sixth year of Duke Zhuang: The later ruler bit his navel. Pronounced ji (rising tone). Also, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the Rhyme Assembly (Yunhui), and the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Qiqi, the appearance of being respectful and cautious. From the Book of Rites (Liji), jade algae chapter: In the temple, one is respectful and cautious. Pronounced ji (falling tone). From the Book of Rites (Liji), inner principles chapter: For all food seasonings, observe the season of spring. From the Book of Zhou (Zhouli), ministry of heaven, commentary on the sauce maker: Food has seasonings and mixtures, such as medicine. Also, wine made according to specific measures and quantities is called Qi. From the Book of Zhou (Zhouli), ministry of heaven, officer of wine: The five mixtures and three wines, also written with a different radical. Also, fire-Qi, the name of a bead. One account says it resembles mica. It opens in layers, yellow-red in color like gold. Pronounced ji (falling tone). Means to harmonize. From the Book of Zhou (Zhouli), ministry of heaven, food physician: The mixtures of the eight delicacies. Pronounced zi (level tone). From the Analects (Lunyu): Lift the hem of the robe to ascend the hall. Kong Anguo says: The lower part of the clothing is called the hem. From the Book of Rites (Liji), quli chapter: Use both hands to pull up the clothing, leaving the hem by a foot. Note: Qi refers to the stitched edge at the bottom of the skirt. Pronounced zhuang (falling tone). Same as the character for fasting (zhai). From the Book of Rites (Liji), on the meaning of sacrifice: To fast means to be upright; one fixes that which is not upright to achieve uprightness. Pronounced ji (level tone). Same as the character for pickled vegetables (ji). From the Book of Zhou (Zhouli), ministry of heaven, commentary on the five mixtures for the pickled goods officer: It should be read as the character for pickled vegetables. The five mixtures include fragrant roots, ginger, and others. Note: The sub-commentary says: Pickled goods is a general term for salted vegetables and meat. Also interchangeable with the character for to ascend. From the Book of Rites (Liji), record of music: Earthly vapors rise up. Pronounced ji (falling tone). Same as the character for water chestnut (ji). From the Book of Rites (Liji), jade algae chapter: To hurry in the middle of picking water chestnuts. Note: Zheng’s commentary says: It should be read as the character for water chestnut. Pronounced ci (level tone). Regarding the phrase from the jade algae chapter, it should be read with this sound. The character for fasting was originally written only as this character. See the entry for the character for fasting. Pronounced jian (falling tone). Same as the character to cut. According to the Explanations of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi): To sever. Because one cuts to make things even, this character is synonymous with cutting. From the Ceremonial Rites (Yili), on the rites of the funeral: The horse’s mane is trimmed. Note: It means to cut.