Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Big (dà) Kangxi stroke count: 8 Page 250, Entry 21 Pronounced yan (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters) defines this as to cover, signifying an abundance. The character structure is composed of Big and Extended. Extended means to stretch out. Another interpretation is suddenly or hurriedly. Book of Documents (Shujing): To govern and pacify the people. Book of Odes (Shijing): To possess the four quarters. Also used as a personal name. Book of Odes (Shijing): Ziche Yanxi. Pronounced yan (level tone). Means to observe for a long time. Book of Odes (Shijing): To watch the harvesting of crops. Also means to linger for a long time. Han dynasty, Revised Songs for the Suburban Sacrifices: The spirits linger, descending for a brief moment. Annotation: Pronounced yan. Xuyao means a brief moment. There is also the phrase: The spirits in the evening linger and consider, truly enjoying the offerings. Also the name of a state. Among the eastern feudal lords, it was one that assisted King Zhou of Shang in committing evil deeds. Book of Documents (Shujing): The King came from the State of Yan. Also Yanli, situated to the east of the Lu city walls; this is the location of the old city site of Qufu. Comprehensive Records (Tongzhi): Refers to it as Shangyanli. Pronounced yan (falling tone). Means the essence or vital energy is enclosed and stored. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli): The eunuch officials (yanren). Liu Changzong reads it this way. Textual research: According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced yan (rising tone). Caution: The Collected Rhymes uses the character Yan as the head entry; carefully following the Collected Rhymes, Yan has been changed to Yan.