Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Food (shí) Character: yi Kangxi Strokes: 21 Page 1425, Entry 33 Ancient literature records: In both the Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun) and the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), it is pronounced yi (falling tone), sounding the same as the character meaning virtuous. The Jade Chapter (Yupian) defines it as food spoilage, referring to the altered odor of food. The Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as cooked food that has become damp and rotten. The Er Ya (Erya), in the chapter Interpreting Vessels (Shiqi), states that when food spoils, it is called ai. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) notes it is sometimes written in a variant form (wen). Furthermore, in the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced ai (falling tone), sounding the same as ai. The meaning is the same. Additionally, in the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced ye (level tone), sounding the same as to choke. The Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as cooked food that obstructs the throat. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) notes it is sometimes written in a variant form (ye). Furthermore, in the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced yi (entering tone), sounding the same as one. The meaning is the same.