Yin Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Roof (bù) Character: Yi Kangxi Strokes: 8 Page 284, Entry 03 Ancient form. Pronounced yi. According to the Explaining and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it means that which is secure. According to the Expanded Rhymes (Zengyun), it means to conform to reason. Book of Changes (Yijing), Hexagram of Peace (Tai): The sovereign adjusts and completes the ways of Heaven and Earth, assisting the suitability (yi) of Heaven and Earth. Book of Rites (Liji), Royal Regulations (Wangzhi): Make their government uniform, do not change their suitability. Left Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Second Year of Duke Cheng: The former kings surveyed and regulated the land and its suitability throughout the world. Commentary: This refers to the Ministry of Territorial Affairs, such as the statement that Qing Province is suitable for rice and millet, and Yong Province is suitable for broomcorn and panicled millet. Book of Odes (Shijing), Zhou Nan: Suitable for his household and family. Commentary: Suitable means the idea of harmony and compliance. Literary Expositor (Erya), Explaining Words: Yi means matters. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes (Daya): The ancestral impersonators come to feast and come to be provided for. Mao Commentary: Suitable for the matters. Jade Chapters (Yupian): Means to be appropriate, to accord with what is right. Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Music (Yueji): That the martial dance is slow and enduring, is it not appropriate? Also the name of a sacrifice. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Great Oath (Taishi): Offer a specialized sacrifice to the Supreme Deity, offer the Yi sacrifice to the Earth Spirit. Commentary: Sacrificing to the Earth Spirit is called Yi. The Earth Spirit is the god of the soil. Book of Rites (Liji), Royal Regulations (Wangzhi): Appropriate to the Earth Spirit. Commentary: Citing the Literary Expositor, when initiating great affairs or mobilizing the masses, one must first offer a sacrifice to the god of the soil, ensuring that punishments and mandates are handled appropriately. Also the name of a prefecture. Ancient territory of the Hundred Yue; originally established as Yue Prefecture, later changed to Yi Prefecture. Also a surname. Zhengzitong: During the Yuan dynasty, Yi Guike was widely versed in the classics and histories. Also used interchangeably with the character for ceremony/standard (yi). Book of Han (Qianhan Shu), Geography Treatise: Boyi was able to standardize (yi) all things. The character for ceremony is read the same as Yi. Also rhyming with he, pronounced e. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Yong: Like a mountain, like a river, the ceremonial robes are appropriate. Rhyming with tuo and he. Note: According to the Five Books of Phonology (Yinxue Wushu), the ancient pronunciation of Yi was in the rhyme category of he. The character Yi appears nine times in the Book of Odes (Shijing), once in the Book of Rites (Yili), and once in the Songs of Chu (Chuci). Later scholars mistakenly placed it in the fifth branch rhyme category; based on this, it is not merely a rhyming sound. Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): The form with the structure of the character for roof (yi) is the clerical script form of Yi.