Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Rain (yǔ) Kangxi Strokes: 11 Page 1371, Entry 25 Pronounced yú. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen): A summer sacrifice performed with music to the Red Emperor to pray for sweet rain. It is formed from the radical for rain with a phonetic component suggesting movement. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian): A sacrifice to request rain. According to the Approaching Elegance (Erya), Explanation of Teachings (Shixun): To dance and call out is called yu. Annotation: The sacrifice of yu involves dancers calling out and sighing to request rain. According to the Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Commands (Yueling): In the middle of summer, perform the great yu sacrifice. Annotation: Yu is a sacrifice of sighing and calling out to request rain. According to the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Duke Huan Year 5: When the dragon appears, perform the yu sacrifice. Annotation: To pray for rich rain for the sake of the hundred grains from afar. Commentary: The word yu implies distance. Distance means preparing in advance for the autumn harvest, signifying deep and far-reaching intent. Also, Yulou is a place name. According to the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Duke Xiang Year 26: The Viscount of Chu and the people of Qin invaded Wu and reached Yulou. Explanation of Texts (Shiwen): Yu is pronounced yú. Also, according to the History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Treatise on Geography: Yudu in Yuzhang Commandery, and Yudu (variant form) in Langye Commandery. Also, pronounced xū. According to the Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun): Yulou is an ancient county name located in Lujiang. Regarding the explanation of Yulou in the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Xu Miao read it this way. Also, pronounced xū. Regarding the explanation of Yulou in the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Wei Zhao read it this way. Also, pronounced wū. Regarding the explanation of Yulou in the Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), some read it as hu (rising tone). Also, pronounced yù. According to the Approaching Elegance (Erya), Explanation of Heaven (Shitian): The rainbow is called yu. The rainbow is the colorful bow in the sky. Annotation: Commonly known as the beauty rainbow. In the region east of the Yangtze River, it is called yu. Explanation of Texts (Shiwen): Yu is pronounced yú (falling-rising tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen): Sometimes also written in a variant form.