Wu Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Spirit (shì)
祐
Kangxi Stroke Count: 10
Page 841, Entry 05
Ancient form.
According to the Collection of Sounds (Jiyun), the Classified Compilation (Leipian), and the Compendium of Phonology (Yunhui), the pronunciation is you (falling tone).
Divine assistance.
Book of Changes (Yijing), section on Great Possession: "Assisted by heaven."
Appended Statements (Xici): "To assist is to help."
Also written interchangeably as the character for right.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Eulogies of Zhou: "Heaven will assist it."
Commentary (Jian): "The gods enjoy their virtue and assist them."
Classic of History (Shujing), section on Tai Jia: "August Heaven regards with favor and assists the Shang."
Also pronounced wei (falling tone), rhyming with the character for noble.
Songs of Chu (Chuci), Questions of Heaven: "Startled, you gather ferns, what assistance does the deer provide, traveling north to the river bend, what joy is there." The character for joy is pronounced xi.