Shen Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Clothing (yī)
Character: xi
Kangxi stroke count: 22
Page 1127, Entry 01
Ancient form: zhe
Pronounced xi.
According to the Yupian (Dictionary of Characters), it means to wear layered garments.
Book of Rites (Liji): A fur coat with an outer garment worn over it is to show its beauty; to wear it as a layered set is to manifest its beauty.
Record of Music (Yueji): To turn and rotate, alternating between an outer garment and layered garments, is the refinement of ritual.
Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government (Zizhi Tongjian): Lord Lie of Zhao bestowed upon Gongzhong Lian two sets of clothing. Commentary: A full set of upper and lower garments is called a xi.
Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Characters): A robe with the left lapel overlapping to the right.
To wear. Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park: To wear court robes.
To combine or coincide. Discourses of the States (Guoyu): My dreams coincide with my divination, matching the auspicious signs, and we shall surely defeat the Shang.
To follow in succession. Book of Rites (Liji): Divination and lots should not be performed in succession for the same matter.
To repeat. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), tenth year of Duke Ai: Divination does not repeat the same auspicious result.
To enter. Discourses of the States (Guoyu): When a large state enters a small state, it is called submission; when a small state is arrogant toward a large state and the large state enters it, it is called punishment.
To receive. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), twenty-eighth year of Duke Zhao: Therefore, they received heavenly blessings, and their descendants inherited them.
To surprise or attack unprepared. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), twenty-ninth year of Duke Zhuang: Military campaigns accompanied by bells and drums are called expeditions (fa); those without are called incursions (qin); swift, sudden attacks are called xi.
Zaxi, meaning mixed or crowded together. History of the Former Han Dynasty (Hanshu), Biography of Kuai Tong: Like fish scales layered and crowded, arriving like a rising wind.
A surname. Records of Clans (Shizu Lue): In the Jin state, there was a recluse named Xi Yuanzhi. History of the Southern Dynasties (Nan Shi): There was a person named Xi Wei.
Yupian: The seal script form is written as shown in the original text.
Pianhai: Also written as shown in the original text.