Si Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Ox (niú) 犧 Kangxi Stroke Count: 20 Page 705, Entry 09 Pronounced xi (level tone). Pronounced xi (level tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to sacrificial animals used in ancestral temple ceremonies. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Micro-Zi chapter: Now the people of the Yin dynasty are actually stealing the pure-colored, complete sacrificial animals meant for heaven and earth. Commentary: An animal with a pure coat color is called a sacrifice. Sub-commentary: The Record of Rites (Qu Li) states: The Son of Heaven uses solid-colored cattle. Animals used for imperial sacrifices must be of a solid color; hence, we know that an animal with a pure coat is called a sacrifice. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: Use my clean offerings, paired with my pure-colored sheep, to sacrifice to the god of the soil and the gods of the four directions. Also, Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Lu: Use red, pure-colored animals to offer sacrifice. Commentary: Sacrifice refers to a pure color. Record of Rites (Qu Li): For all private productions, sacrificial vessels are the priority, followed by the requisitioning of sacrificial animals. Note: Sacrificial levy refers to the orderly requisitioning of animals. Also, Record of Rites (Li Qi): The sacrificial wine vessel is covered with a coarse cloth. Sub-commentary: Carved into the shape of a sacrificial ox, it is used as a wine vessel. Pronounced suo (level tone). A type of wine vessel. It is decorated with kingfisher feathers. This is the interpretation of Zheng Sinong. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Lu: The sacrificial wine vessels are arranged in perfect order. Commentary: Sacrificial wine vessels are decorated with colorful feathers. Explanation of Texts: Pronounced suo (level tone). Sometimes also written in a variant form (xiàn) or (xì). Textual Research: Record of Rites (Li Qi): The sacrificial vessel uses coarse cloth. We note that in the original text, the character for lid (mì) should be added after coarse cloth.