Yin Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Small (xiǎo) Kangxi Strokes: 8 Page 297, Entry 11 Pronounced shàng. According to the Shuowen Jiezi, it means to increase or to hope for. Composed of the character for eight and a phonetic component indicating direction. According to the annotations to the Erya, Xing Bing stated: Shang refers to that which the heart hopes for. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes of Kingdom (Xiaoya): Do not hope to rest there. Book of Documents (Shujing), Counsels of the Great Yu (Dayu Mo): You must unify your heart and strength. Also means to add or to decorate. Analects (Lunyu): To love benevolence, there is nothing that can surpass it. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Qi (Qifeng): Adorned with white silk, further decorated with brilliant flowers. Also means to honor or to esteem. Book of Rites (Liji), Tan Gong: The Xia dynasty honored black, the Shang dynasty honored white, and the Zhou dynasty honored red. Also means to preside over. Those who manage the provisions of the sovereign are all titled Shang. Han Official Rituals (Hanguanyi): This refers to positions such as the Director of Food, the Director of Medicine, and the Director of the Imperial Workshop. Also, the Shangshu (Censorate/Secretariat), who manage great affairs. Also, according to the Zengyun, it means to revere. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes of Kingdom (Daya): Only the master, Shangfu. Annotation: Tai Gong Wang, who was the Grand Master and revered as the Father of the State. Also means yet or still. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes of Kingdom (Daya): Although there are no elders, there are still statutes. Also, marrying an imperial princess is called Shang. This implies that the daughter of an emperor is noble, and one acts in a serving capacity to them; one does not dare to speak of marrying. Former Han History (Qianhan Shu), Biography of Wang Ji: To marry the daughter of the Son of Heaven is called Shang Princess; to marry the daughter of a feudal lord is called Cheng Wengzhu; both Shang and Cheng are terms denoting an inferior position. Another interpretation is to be paired with. Biography of Sima Xiangru: Zhuo Wangsun considered himself fortunate that his daughter was able to be paired with Sima Changqing. Annotation: Shang means to be paired with. The meaning is the same as that of Shang Princess. Also, I Ching, Hexagram of Tai: To be in accordance with the middle path. Annotation: This means to be in agreement with the way of the middle path. Also means to respectfully receive. Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on the Changmen Palace: I wish to be granted an inquiry and present myself, to receive the jade-like sound of your command. Also means to boast or to claim credit. Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Clothing (Biaoji): A gentleman does not boast of his own achievements. Also a surname. During the Warring States period, there was Shang Jin; during the Tang dynasty, there was Shang Heng. Also interchangeable with the character meaning above (shàng). Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Wei (Weifeng): Be careful in this, so that they may come and not stay elsewhere. Annotation: The character meaning above is synonymous with Shang; it says that by being careful, they can be brought back and not remain there. Preface to the Book of Documents (Shangshu Xu): Shang means above. It refers to the records from the previous generation, hence it is called Shangshu. Also rhyming with the pronunciation cháng. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes of Kingdom (Daya): The August Heaven did not favor.