Chou Collection, Upper Volume. Radical: Mouth (kǒu). Character: sang. Kangxi Stroke Count: 12. Page: 200. Ancient script form. According to Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Assembly (Yunhui), it follows the fanqie spellings of su and lang or si and lang, read in the departing tone. Jade Chapters (Yupian) defines it as death. Correct Rhymes also indicates it refers to losing one's position. Analects (Lunyu): Why should you gentlemen worry about losing your official positions? The commentary notes that here the word refers to losing an official post. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan): Duke Zhao said, I, a man who has lost his position, lack talent. Furthermore, according to Broad Rhymes, Collected Rhymes, Rhyme Assembly, and Correct Rhymes, it is also pronounced with the fanqie spellings of xi and lang or su and lang, read as sang in the level tone. Correct Rhymes states it refers to observing mourning. Book of Rites (Liji): The practice of the Kong family not observing mourning for a divorced mother began with Zisi. Also: Zixia lost his son and wept until he went blind. Textual Explanations (Shiwen) notes that the first instance of the word is read in the level tone, while the second instance is read in the departing tone. Additionally, Broad Rhymes states it refers to a coffin, currently called a hearse or catafalque. Book of Rites: When escorting a coffin out of the territory, one must not cross the national border. It is also a surname. Broad Rhymes mentions a high official in the State of Chu named Sang Zuo. Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) notes it was originally written in an ancient form. Broad Rhymes notes it is also written in a variant form.