Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) 縣 Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 934, Entry 01 Pronounced xuán. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): To fasten or hang. Note: Xu Xuan stated that this was originally the character for hanging; it was borrowed to serve as the character for an administrative district. Common usage now adds the heart radical to create a separate character for hanging, which lacks etymological justification. Book of Changes (Yijing): Hanging objects to display images for illumination; there is nothing greater than the sun and moon. Book of Odes (Shijing): Responding with drums hung for the hunt. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): Adjusting the positions of hung musical instruments. Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili): The musicians hang the musical instruments. Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan): Visiting with triple-hung musical instruments and ornate horse decorations. History of the Former Han Dynasty (Hanshu): Distant and separated by a thousand miles. Also pronounced xuàn. Also pronounced xiàn. Explanation of Names (Shiming): A county is that which hangs; it implies hanging and belonging to a commandery. Guangyun: Anciently written as the character for world (huán). When King Zhuang of Chu destroyed the state of Chen, he established it as a county; the term county originated from this. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): The taxes of county lands outside the royal domain. Note: The area four hundred li outside the royal domain is called a county. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): Four dian form one county. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): Five bi form one county. Discourses of the States (Guoyu): Three xiang form one county. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Great is the entire realm within the center. Note: County refers to the Red County, a name for China. History of the Former Han Dynasty (Hanshu): Dividing the world into commanderies and counties. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): County official refers to the Son of Heaven. The monarch considers the world to be officially held by him, hence he is called the county official. Also a surname. Book of Rites (Liji): Xian Benfu. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Xian Danfu. Note: According to the Shuowen Jiezi, this was originally under the silk radical, but it is now consolidated here.