Si Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Water (shuǐ)
Entry: shui
Kangxi strokes: 11
Page 627, Entry 06
According to Tang Rhyme (Tangyun), Collection Rhyme (Jiyun), Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), and Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced shui. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it refers to warm water. Another interpretation is that it refers to filtering lye.
As stated in the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Office, Record of Trades (Kaogongji), the Huang clan refined silk by soaking it in filtered water for seven days.
It also refers to the act of filtering and blending to make a liquid clear. As stated in the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Office, Director of Sacrificial Vessels (Si Zunyi), concerning the angqi (a type of fermented liquor), it is filtered and blended. The commentary notes that angqi is relatively clear and can be prepared by filtering and blending it with clear wine.
According to the Collection Rhyme (Jiyun), it is also pronounced sui, with the same meaning.
It is also pronounced xue, referring to the act of wiping a ladle used for scooping wine.
Textual research: In the Rites of Zhou, Winter Office, Record of Trades, the original text reads the Huang clan, not the Huang people. The text has been corrected accordingly.