You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 1167, Entry 01 Pronounced tan. In the Shuo Wen Jie Zi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters), it is defined as speech. Xu states that to tan is to speak with harmony and joy. In the Guang Yun (Broad Rhymes), it is defined as conversation or discourse. From the Gongyang Zhuan (Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Min Year 2): The people of Lu still consider it a beautiful story today. From the Book of Rites (Liji): Discourse is the refinement of benevolence. From the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of the Witty: The words spoken were subtle yet hit the mark. From the Book of Jin (Jin Shu), Biography of Ruan Xiu: Wang Yan was the master of discourse in his time. Also, as defined in the Yu Pian (Jade Chapters), it means to tease or joke. From the Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: Dare not speak in jest. Also refers to hand-talk (a term for the game of Go). The Xu Bowu Zhi (Continued Records of Wide-ranging Matters) notes that Wang Zhonglang called the game of Go sitting in seclusion, also known as hand-talk. Also the name of a county. According to the Book of Southern Qi (Nan Qi Shu), Records of Provinces and Commanderies: Tan County belonged to Shikang Commandery in Yizhou. Also the name of a barbarian prefecture. According to the Old Book of Tang (Tang Shu), Treatise on Geography: There was a Tan Prefecture in the Lingnan Circuit. Also a surname. According to the Shu Lu (Record of Shu): During the Han Dynasty, there was a General of the East, Tan Ba. Also, as noted in the Zheng Yun (Correct Rhymes), it is also written in the variant form tan. See the entry for the character tan. Also, according to the Yun Hui Xiao Bu (Minor Supplement to the Rhyme Collection), it is rhymed as tang. From the Jijiuzhang (Quick-Reference Chapters): Cao Fugui, Li Yinsang, Xiao Pengzu, Qu Zongtan.