Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Halberd (gē) Yue Kangxi stroke count: 5 Page 411, Entry 02 Pronounced yue. A type of ceremonial axe. Carried but not used, signifying that divine martial power is not intended for killing. The Methods of Sima (Sima Fa) states: During the Xia dynasty they held the yue, in the Yin dynasty they held the white qi, and in the Zhou dynasty they carried the yellow yue in the left hand and held a white yak-tail banner in the right. The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Summer Offices, Great Minister of War section states: Holding the pitch pipe in the left hand and the yue in the right. The commentary explains: The pitch pipe is used to listen for military sounds, and the yue is used to manifest the authority of the general. Also the name of a star. The History of the Former Han (Qian Hanshu), Treatise on Astronomy, states: The star curved to the west of Eastern Well is called Yue. It also says: Injuries manifest as Yue. The commentary states: Divination regarding damage from thieves manifests its form first in Yue. Also pronounced yue. The meaning is the same. Note: Lexicons such as the Explaining Characters (Shuowen) classify the phonetic as the yue initial, while the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun) treats it as the yu initial. This is because northern dialects treat the yu and yue initials as the same. The small seal script consists of the radical for halberd and a phonetic component. The common form, which adds the metal radical to form the character for a large battle-axe, refers specifically to the ornamented version, which is further removed from the ancient form; such are the changes in character dictionaries from ancient to modern times.