Wu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Spirit (shì) 14 strokes Page 845, Entry 07 Pronounced yang. According to the Explanation of Writing (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to a sacrifice performed on the road. Another definition states it refers to a road deity. Pronounced shang. It refers to driving away a malicious spirit. According to the Book of Rites (Liji), specifically the Suburban Special Sacrifices (Jiao Tesheng) chapter: The villagers perform a ritual to drive away evil spirits. The commentary states: Driving away evil spirits refers to the seasonal Nuo ritual of searching through houses to expel pestilence and drive away malicious spirits. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) notes that it is sometimes written in a variant form.