Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Food (shí) Character: xi Kangxi Brushstrokes: 19 Page 1423, Entry 01 Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): pronounced xi; Rhyme Compilation (Yunhui): pronounced xi. Jade Chapters (Yupian): To bestow food. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Ministry of Justice (Qiuguan), Director of Protocol (Siyi): To present cooked food and provisions (yong xi). Commentary: Small gifts are called sun, large gifts are called yong xi. Also, Discourses of the States (Zhouyu): The granary officials present provisions. Commentary: Refers to grain and rice. Also refers to live livestock. Ceremonial Rites (Yili), Visiting Rites (Pinli): Provide provisions according to ritual; for high-ranking guests use a large sacrificial offering (dalao), stack only fodder and grain, and all intermediaries also receive provisions. Commentary: Any gift of live livestock to a person is called xi. Provisions (xi) are like a fixed allowance or provision. Sub-commentary: According to the scripture, the host state dispatches an official to deliver cooked food and provisions. The five offerings specify: one serving of cooked food, two servings of raw meat, and two servings of live animals, placed west of the gate. Zheng's commentary states: xi refers to live animals. Cattle and sheep are led by the right hand, pigs are tethered; these live animals are called xi. In the Analects (Lunyu), regarding the sacrificial sheep for the announcement of the new moon, Zheng's commentary also states: live livestock are called xi. In the Spring and Autumn Commentary (Chunqiu Zhuan), concerning the provision (xi) of Zang Shiniu, Fu's commentary also states: live livestock. Therefore, all live livestock are called xi. In the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu), 33rd year of Duke Xi: Huang Wuzi of Zheng said: The led provisions (xi qian) are exhausted. Fu's commentary considers xi to be raw meat, because it is contrasted with led (live) animals, so he interprets xi as raw meat. The Preface to the Book of Odes (Shixu) says: Although there are sacrificial animals and provisions (yong xi). Zheng Xuan says: Raw meat is called xi, because it is contrasted with living (animals), so he interprets xi as raw meat. Also, Discourses of Lu (Luyu): Horse fodder should not exceed brome grass and weeds. Commentary: Fodder. Note: In the Explaining Graphs (Shuowen), the original form is written as qi. Xi refers to fodder and rice bestowed upon guests. The Qi people came to bestow gifts upon the feudal lords, as seen in the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu), 10th year of Duke Huan. It is sometimes written in a variant form using the food radical as xi, or using the ji radical, and is also interchangeable with ji, with the same meaning. Now it is commonly written as xi. Textual Research: Also, Ministry of Earth (Diguan), Director of the Multitude (Situ): The granary officials present provisions. Commentary: Grain and rice. Correction: This citation originates from the Zhouyu chapter of the Discourses of the States (Zhouyu), not the Ministry of Earth, Director of the Multitude section of the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli). The text "Ministry of Earth, Director of the Multitude" has been corrected to "Discourses of the States." Ceremonial Rites (Yili) Sub-commentary: Cites the Spring and Autumn Commentary (Chunqiu Zhuan), "provision (xi) of Zang Shiniu." According to the original text, "cang" has been corrected to "zang."