Chen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Tree (mù). Kangxi stroke count: 7. Page 512, Entry 01. Pronounced zhang (falling tone). According to the Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Single-component Characters and Analyzing Compound Characters), it is an object used to support one while walking. Book of Rites (Liji), Section on Minor Rules of Deportment (Quli): A grand master retires at seventy; if his resignation is not accepted, he is certainly granted a low table and a walking staff. Also, in the Royal Regulations (Wangzhi): At fifty, one may use a walking staff within the home; at sixty, one may use it in the village; at seventy, one may use it in the capital; at eighty, one may use it within the royal court. Also, in the Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Mourning Attire (Sangfu Xiaoji): The coarse walking staff used for mourning a father is made of bamboo; the smoothed staff used for mourning a mother is made of paulownia wood. Also refers to a wooden rod. Family Sayings of Confucius (Kongzi Jiayu): When Shun served his father Gu Sou, he would stand still to be beaten if a small rod was used, but would run away if a large rod was used. Also denotes a handle, specifically the handle of weapons such as the ge-dagger-axe or the ji-halberd. Master Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals (Lushi Chunqiu), Section on Valuing the Self (Guiyi Pian): Carrying weapons into battle. Also, in the Erya, Explaining Plants (Shicao): The tu plant is known as the tiger-staff (huzhang). Also pronounced zhang (falling tone). The meaning is to hold or grasp. It is the same as the character meaning to rely on or to hold. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Oath at Mu (Mushe): King Wu of Zhou held a yellow battle-axe in his left hand. Also refers to relying upon or depending on. Zuo Commentary (Zuo Zhuan), Eighth Year of Duke Xiang: Relying on trust to wait for the State of Jin. Textual Research: In the Book of Rites (Liji), Section on Minor Rules of Deportment (Quli), the original text states, "A grand master retires at seventy and is granted a table and staff." According to the original text, the six characters "if his resignation is not accepted, he is certainly" must be added before "is granted." In the Erya, Explaining Plants (Shicao), it states "Tiger-staff is tu." According to the original text, this has been corrected to "The tu plant is known as the tiger-staff."