Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Woman (nǚ) Yuan Kangxi Stroke Count: 12 Page 267, Entry 11 According to the Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhymes Collected (Yunhui), the pronunciation is yuan (falling tone). According to the Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters (Shuowen), it refers to a beautiful woman. It is one who is supported or drawn by others. Sun Yan stated, it refers to the support of a gentleman. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), it is said, she is the beauty of the state. In the History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Eunuchs, it mentions attendants who are beautiful and possess fine appearance. Also, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is yuan (falling tone). The meaning is the same. Also, according to the Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun), the pronunciation is yuan (rising tone). According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Rhymes Collected (Yunhui), the pronunciation is yuan (rising tone). It appears in the compound chanyuan, which describes the appearance of pulling or dragging. In the Songs of Chu (Chuci), Lament for Ying, it says, my heart is pulled and wounded by sorrow, not knowing where my feet rest. In Zhang Heng’s Rhapsody on the Southern Capital (Nandu Fu), it says, with roots bound and trunks rising, the hanging branches are pulled and tangled. The commentary notes that chanyuan means to pull. Also, rhyming with an (falling tone). In Sun Chu’s Eulogy for the Late Mother, it says, the Wen River flows on, the Milky Way (Yunhan) is vast and expansive. Looking upon this great clan, they have nurtured this heroic beauty.