Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Dagger-axe (gē) Kangxi Strokes: 17 Page 414, Entry 23 Guangyun, Jiyun, and Yunhui state the pronunciation is xi (falling tone). Zhengzhitong states the pronunciation is xu (falling tone), read as xi (falling tone). Shuowen states it refers to a flanking force within the three armies. One theory states it refers to weaponry. Guangyun states it refers to teasing. Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Customary Restrictions (Fangji): Within the inner chambers, one may jest but not sigh. Commentary: Jest refers to children speaking and laughing. It also refers to joking. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Wei (Weifeng): Skilled in jesting. It also refers to playing. It is also a surname. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), Annals of Wei (Weizhi): Xi Zhicai was a man from Yingchuan. Guangyun states it is an ancient form of the character hu. Detailed notes are found in the mouth radical, five strokes section. Guangyun states it is pronounced xi (level tone). Jiyun, Yunhui, and Zhengzhitong state it is pronounced xi (level tone). Jiyun: Wu-xi is an exclamation. Regarding the Guangyun, this character is categorized under the yu rhyme, and it is said to be an ancient form of hu, yet it is also categorized under the zhi rhyme and explained as an exclamation. Therefore, the character xi has two pronunciations, both of which are valid. Zhengzitong states that the term yu-xi in the Book of Odes is the same as wu-hu, an exclamation that may express praise or sorrow. Later scholars rigidly established a convention where wu-hu is used for funeral orations and yu-xi is used for official investiture documents. The belief that wu-hu denotes sorrow and yu-xi denotes praise is a strained interpretation; this critique is indeed correct. However, if one says that hu and xi are interchangeable, then xi may be read as hu, but hu cannot be read as xi because xi possesses the xi (level tone) pronunciation, while hu is only classified under the qi-yu rhyme. It is also interchangeable with xi. Fu-xi. Zhuangzi writes it as Fu-xi. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) writes it as Fu-xi. Xunzi, Chengxiang Chapter: The way of Wen and Wu is identical to Fu-xi. It is also a place name. Discourses of the States (Guoyu), Discourses of Lu (Luyu): King You of Zhou was destroyed at Yu-xi. Jiyun and Yunhui state it is pronounced hui (level tone), the same as hui. Jiyun: Refers to a type of banner. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Summer Official: Erect the great hui for the hunt. Sometimes written as xi. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals of Xiang Yu: The feudal lords disbanded their banners, each returning to their own state. Commentary: The same as hui. Jiyun states it is pronounced kui (level tone). Refers to leaning or tilting. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Official, Mourning Invocation Commentary: Hold the canopy to guard against tilting. Jiyun states it is pronounced yi (level tone). The original character is yi. Shuowen: The slope of the Yishi people in Shangdang. Sometimes written as xi. Jiyun states it is pronounced suo (level tone). The original character for suo is xi. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Spring Official, Two Offerings Commentary: A name for a wine vessel. Decorated with kingfisher feathers. According to Zheng Sinong, it is sometimes written as xian, or as xi.