Xu Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Eat (shí)
饰
Kangxi stroke count: 14
Page 1418, Entry 02
Pronounced shi.
Pronounced shi.
Jade Chapters (Yupian): To cultivate or decorate.
Elegant Refinements (Yiya): To decorate is to wipe. When an object is dirty, one wipes the surface to make it bright; it becomes bright through the action of another object, just as one adds ornamentation to a substance.
Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Music (Yueji): Sound is the image of music. Cultural refinement and rhythm are the decorations of sound. Therefore, the superior man moves the root, enjoys the image, and then manages the decorations. Commentary: This refers to applying sound to instruments.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Zheng (Zhengfeng): Lamb fur with leopard trim. Commentary: Decoration here refers to the lining of the sleeves. According to ritual, the ruler uses pure colors, while his ministers use colors below that rank; therefore, the fur is decorated with leopard skin.
Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Earth Officer (Diguan), Keeper of the Mounds (Fengren): To groom the sacrificial cattle. Commentary: This means to brush and clean them. Another interpretation is to prepare and decorate.
Book of Rites (Liji), Summary of Rituals (Quli): To cover the lamb and wild goose with painted silk. Sub-commentary: Decoration here means to cover. One paints a cloth with clouds and covers them when meeting others.
Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling): The Son of Heaven then prepares his military equipment. Commentary: Preparation of equipment refers to martial attire, emphasizing majesty and martial strength.
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Gongsun Hong: Versed in the affairs of officials, he embellished them with Confucian techniques.
Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals of Emperor Zhang: The imperial edict stated: Vain officials fake their outer appearance, seeming to be correct but actually being the opposite; I am very weary of this.
Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Summer Officer (Xiaguan), Director of Fortifications (Zhanggu): To set up defensive weapons and equipment. Commentary: This refers to arms and armor.
Correct Orthography (Zhengzitong): Manshi is the name of a country.
Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters (Shuowen): Also written as a variant. Composed of the radical for person and the radical for cloth, with the phonetic element for food. Pronounced like shi. Another meaning is the decorative pattern on an oak tree.