Mao Collection, Middle Volume
Radical: Hand (shǒu)
撾
Kangxi Dictionary Stroke Count: 17
Page 457, Entry 01
According to the Sound of Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), the pronunciation is gua (level tone). It means to strike or beat.
In the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Weizhi), History of Emperor Wu, it is recorded that Boyu married an orphan girl three times and was accused of beating his father-in-law.
In the History of Tang (Tangshu), Biography of Liu Zongyuan, it states that since ancient times, virtuous men and talented scholars have suffered from slander and criticism and were unable to defend themselves; thus, there are cases of someone being falsely accused of stealing his brother's wife, or a man marrying an orphan being accused of beating his father-in-law.
It also refers to beating a drum. In the History of the Later Han (Houhanshu), Biography of Mi Heng, it is noted that Cao Cao summoned him to serve as a drum official, and Mi Heng performed the Yuyang Cen-gua, with drumbeats of a tragic and heroic rhythm.
According to the Supplement to the Dictionary (Zihuibu), the pronunciation is ge (level tone). In Su Shi's Poem on Observing the New Year (Shousui shi), it says: Let the morning rooster not crow for a moment; the watch drum fears adding more beats. Is there no next year to come? I only worry that my aspirations will be wasted in vain.