Yin Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Small (xiǎo) Kangxi stroke count: 3 Page 296, Entry 18 Pronounced xiǎo (rising tone). Explaining the state of an object being minuscule. The character is composed of the radical for eight (bā) and the vertical hook stroke (jué). It indicates seeing things and separating them. Xu Kai states: The vertical hook indicates the initial manifestation, and the eight indicates separation. Things must begin to manifest before they can be distinguished. Defined as subtle or minute. Book of Changes (Yijing): Although the names of the things mentioned in the hexagrams and line statements are small, the categories of things they exemplify are vast. Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan): The noble person devotes effort to understanding major and long-term affairs, while the base person devotes effort to understanding minor and immediate affairs. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): There were positions for Lesser Ministers, serving as deputies to assist the Greater Ministers, such as the position of Lesser Steward. It also carries the meaning of narrow-mindedness. Book of Documents (Shangshu): Being happy to ask others leads to gain; being self-opinionated leads to narrowing of the heart. It also carries the meaning of to slight or to view with contempt. Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan): Because the Mo'ao was accustomed to success following the Battle of Puzao, he became self-opinionated and was certain to slight the state of Luo. Book of Odes (Shijing): To be resented by a group of petty people. The commentary notes that petty here refers to secondary wives. Yunji states that white small is the name of a type of fish. It also has a rhyming form pronounced xi (falling tone). Bai Juyi, Repentance Gatha: From beginningless kalpas, the various kinds of sins I have committed, whether the sin is light or heavy, whether the sin is great or small. Thoroughly realizing that their essential nature is empty and unattainable is what is called repentance.