Wei Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Meat (ròu) 膳 Kangxi strokes: 18 Page 995, Entry 01 Pronounced shan (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen) states it means to prepare food. Xu Xuan remarks that it refers to the completion of such food; a chef who harmonizes flavors must make them perfect (shan), therefore it is derived from the character for good (shan). Rhyme Treasury (Yunhui) states that cooked food is called xiang, and prepared food is called shan. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), annotation by Zheng Xuan: The meaning of shan is good (shan). Nowadays, fine food is referred to as zhenshan (precious sustenance). History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Annals of Emperor Xuan: Ordered the high officials to reduce food rations and slaughtering. Annotation: Shan refers to prepared food, specifically that which is high quality. It also refers to sacrificial meat. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Offices of Heaven: The Shanfu (Chief Steward) manages the ruler's food and delicacies. Annotation: Shan refers to the meat of sacrificial animals. Guangyun: Also means to eat. Book of Rites (Liji), Shizi of King Wen: When consuming a meal, one inquires about what was eaten. Annotation: Asking about the food consumed. Boya: Shan means to depart. Also the name of an official post. Book of Odes (Shijing), Xiaoya: Zhong Yun served as the Shanfu (Chief Steward). Annotation: The Shanfu is an official rank of senior scholar, responsible for managing the ruler's food and delicacies. Rhyme Treasury (Yunhui): Also written as the character for good (shan). Zhuangzi, Zhi Le chapter: Prepare a great sacrifice (tailao) as a shan. Guangyun, Jiyun, Rhyme Treasury (Yunhui), Zheng Yun: Pronounced shan (falling tone). The meaning is the same. Jiyun: Sometimes written as a variant form (shan). Textual Research: The statement that the meaning of shan is good (shan), and that fine food is currently called zhenshan, is derived from the notes on the Preface to the Offices of Heaven in the Rites of Zhou, not the Zheng Yun. The reference has been corrected to the annotation by Zheng Xuan in the Rites of Zhou. Rites of Zhou, Offices of Heaven, Shanfu: The Shanfu manages the ruler's food and delicacies. The characters for Shanfu were redundant in the source and have been removed from the latter section; food and drink (shiyin) has been corrected to match the original text.