Chen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Tree (mù). Character: Tong. Kangxi strokes: 16. Page 554, Entry 23. According to the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun), Rhyme Compilation (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced tong. According to the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), it is also pronounced tong. The pronunciation is the same as the character for same. It is the name of a type of tree. Its flowers can be used to weave cloth. Recorded in the Rhapsody on the Capital of Shu (Shu Du Fu) by Zuo Si: "flowers of the tong tree cloth." Zhang Yi explains that the flowers of the tong tree are soft and fragile and can be woven into cloth. It is produced in Yongchang. Also, the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun) records it as pronounced zhong. The meaning is the same. Also, the Classified Compilation (Leipian) records that it refers to a section of wood. Under Tang Dynasty regulations, firewood three feet and five inches square is called one tong. Also, the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun) records it as pronounced chong. It refers to a war chariot used for charging into enemy formations. It was originally written as a variant form (chong). Recorded in the Annals of Emperor Xuan of Jin (Jin Shu Xuan Di Ji), it uses war chariots, shields, hooks, and battering rams to attack, with arrows and stones falling like rain. Also, the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) and the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun) record it as pronounced chuang. The Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Rhyme Compilation (Yunhui) record it as pronounced chuang. The pronunciation is the same as the character for curtain. The Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) explains it as a support pole for a tent. The Jade Chapter (Yupian) explains it as a pole. Sometimes it is also written in a variant form (chuang). In the Rhapsody on the Western Capital (Xi Jing Fu) by Zhang Heng, there is the phrase "the Dulu people climb poles." Li Shan annotates that the people of the Dulu Kingdom are agile and skilled at climbing. Note: The original pronunciation of this character is chuang, but in this rhapsody, it is pronounced tong to rhyme with the following characters such as peak and encounter. The Five Classics Character Models (Wujing Ziyang) states that its original pronunciation is tong. Now it is borrowed to serve as the tong character in tree tong. Also, the Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun) records it as pronounced chuang. The meaning is the same. Also, the Erudite Refinements (Boya) explains it as having the meaning of thorn.