Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tree (mù) 柁 Kangxi strokes: 9 Page 518, Entry 04 Pronounced tuo (rising tone) Pronounced tuo (rising tone) According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), this refers to the piece of timber used to steer a ship. It is located at the stern and is the same as the character for rudder. It is also written in a variant form (tuo). According to the Explaining Names (Shiming), the stern of a boat is called the rudder. The rudder is defined by the meaning of dragging, because it appears to be dragged behind the vessel and serves to stabilize the hull, allowing the ship to follow the current without deviating. Guo Pu’s Rhapsody on the River (Jiang Fu) describes riding the waves and operating the rudder. Furthermore, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced tuo (rising tone), which describes the hardness of wood. It is also pronounced tuo (level tone), referring to the shedding of tree leaves.