Si Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Claw (zhuǎ). Kangxi strokes: 9. Page 689, Entry 05. Pronounced yuan (rising tone). Pronounced yuan (rising tone). The pronunciation is the same as yuan (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) defines it as to pull, meaning to lead or guide. The character is composed of two parts. Jiyun (Collected Rhymes) states it is a function word used for quotation. In Erya (Approaching Elegance), the terms yue, yu, and yuan all share the meaning of to speak. These terms are used to explain each other. The commentary notes that this is a case of words being used to explain one another in a rotating manner. Shangshu (Book of Documents): yuan means to change the Xia dynasty calendar. The commentary explains yuan as at or in. Shijing (Book of Odes): yuan means to reach to the pitiable people. The annotation explains yuan as to speak. Also, in Erya (Approaching Elegance), yuan-yuan describes a leisurely and slow appearance. Shijing (Book of Odes): yuan-yuan means relaxed and slow. Additionally, in Yangzi Fangyan (Regional Dialects), yuan signifies anger. This usage is found in the Chu region. Guangyun (Broad Rhymes) defines it as sorrow. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo): Jin then created yuan-tian. The commentary explains this as transferring the tax revenue formerly belonging to public fields to the people who were being rewarded. The sub-commentary states that yuan means to change, referring to the act of changing the allocation of land that previously belonged to the state to be granted to the people. Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian): to impeach, interrogate, and transfer the yuan-shu. The commentary explains that yuan means to change. In ancient times, because of taboos regarding potential bias or prejudice among legal officials, judicial documents were transferred or exchanged so that other officials could verify the facts of the case. Erya (Approaching Elegance): yuan-ju is also called za-xian. The sub-commentary notes that the bird known as yuan-ju is the size of a foal. Another name for it is za-xian. Guoyu (Discourses of the States) mentions a sea bird called yuan-ju-yi. Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) states that the seal script (zhòuwén) variant of this character is also used for the word meaning carriage shaft (yuan). It also serves as a surname. Guangyun (Broad Rhymes) notes that the surname Yuan is sometimes written as this character. It originated in Puyang and traces its lineage to the descendants of Hu Gong, a descendant of the legendary ruler Shun.