Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Kangxi strokes: 10. Page 230, Entry 01. Pronounced yan. Refers to the boundaries of the earth. Eight yan refers to the eight boundaries of the vast earth. Also refers to a tomb passage. In the History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Fan, it mentions a commoner named Zhao Xuan who buried his relatives without sealing the tomb passage. Also written in a variant form (xian). Also, pronounced shan. Refers to mixing water and earth. Also, rhyming with dan. In the Record of the Imperial Sacrifices (Fengshan shu) by Sima Xiangru, it describes spreading across the four quarters, with clouds and mist dispersing, reaching up to the nine heavens and down to the eight directions of the earth.