Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Xun. Kangxi strokes: 17. Page 240, Entry 34. Ancient forms include those written as xun and xuan. According to the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun), pronounced xuan. According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), pronounced xuan. A musical instrument. It is made by firing earth, with a sharp top and flat bottom, shaped like a steelyard weight. According to the Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall (Baihu tong), the word xun signifies to fumigate. It represents the Yang energy beneath the Yellow Springs, rising and fumigating to trigger germination. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), it is written: The elder brother plays the xun. Also written as xun. According to the Erya, a dictionary of classical terms, a large xun is called jiao. Jiao is pronounced jiao. Sun Yan stated: The sound is as loud as a shout. According to the Treatise on Harmonics and Calendars in the Book of Han (Qian Han shu), of the eight categories of musical sounds, earth is represented by the xun. According to the Illustrations of Rites (Litu), a xun the size of a goose egg is called a ya xun, and one the size of a chicken egg is called a song xun. Note that because the xun is a ceramic instrument and not a durable object, common parlance refers to someone prone to superficial, shallow behavior as playing the xun. According to the Music Treatise of the Jingyou Reign of the Song Dynasty (Song Jingyou yueji), the modern large xun has eight holes, with two in front and five behind, and one lacquered opening on top. Also according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), pronounced xun. The meaning is the same. Also pronounced xun. A vessel. According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), this is identical to xun.