You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) 證 Kangxi Strokes: 19 Page 1180, Entry 14 Ancient characters. From Guangyun (Guangyun), Jiyun (Jiyun), and Yunhui (Yunhui): Pronounced zheng (falling tone). From Shuowen (Shuowen): To accuse or denounce. From Yupian (Yupian): To verify or validate. From Zengyun (Zengyun): Proof, evidence, or to confront with evidence. Analects (Lunyu): If a father steals a sheep, the son denounces him. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Let the testimonies and evidence all point to the King of Qi. Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu): Adopt the precedents of previous generations as a basis for verification. Book of Song (Songshu): Distinguish right from wrong, and let each provide its own evidence. Also used interchangeably with zheng. Book of Rites (Liji), Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong): Even if there are good deeds, if there is no verification, then without verification one cannot gain the trust of others. Commentary: If good deeds lack clear verification, then those good deeds cannot be trusted. Zheng may also be written as zheng. Jiyun (Jiyun): This character was created by Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty.