Mao Collection, Lower Volume
Radical: Tapping (pū)
Kangxi Strokes: 11
Page 471, Entry 12
Pronounced yu (rising tone).
Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters): To prohibit. Also defined as a musical instrument, a type of percussion; it is shaped like a wooden tiger.
Commentary on the Erya (Erya), section on music: The yu is shaped like a crouching tiger; on its back are twenty-seven jagged teeth, which are struck with a wooden stick one foot long.
Shiming (Explanation of Names): Yu means to restrain. To restrain means to stop; it is used to bring music to a halt.
Book of Documents (Shujing): Harmonizing and stopping with the zhu and yu instruments.
Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Spring: Beating the hand drum, the zhu, and the yu.