Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Big (dà) Kangxi stroke count: 10 Page 252, Entry 10 Pronounced xi. Refers to servants or laborers. The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli) mentions three hundred government servants. The commentary explains: xi is equivalent to modern government slaves. Sometimes written in a variant form (xi). The History of the Tang Dynasty (Tangshu) account of Li He mentions that Li He had a young servant who carried a pouch of ancient brocade; whenever he thought of a poem, he would drop it into the pouch. Also a place name. The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu) mentions a battle against the Qi army at Xi. The commentary explains this as a location in the state of Lu. Also a mountain name. The Great Xi Mountain is in Guangzhou, located three hundred li from the Buddha Hall Gate sea passage, where the tides flow through, as seen in the Southern Yue Records (Nanyuezhi). Also tuoxi, the name of a type of fine horse. The History of the Former Han Dynasty (Qianshushu) mentions the tuoxi horse. The commentary explains: the character tu (pronounced dian) refers to a horse that can outrun its mother within seven days of birth. Also yangxi, the name of a type of herb. The Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) states that yangxi is similar to the bamboo shoot herb. Also an interrogative particle. The Analects (Lunyu) says, why do you not engage in government? The Mencius (Mengzi) says, why do you not leave? Also a surname. Xi Zhong was an official in charge of carriages during the Xia dynasty, and Xi Mu was an official during the Northern Wei. Shuowen Jiezi explains: xi means a large belly; the character is formed from the radical big with a shortened phonetic component. The Zhengzitong believes that the specific definition of a large belly provided in the Shuowen Jiezi is incorrect.