You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) 證 Kangxi Strokes: 19 Page 1180, Entry 06 Ancient character form. Pronounced zheng (falling tone). According to the Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen): to inform. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian): to verify. According to the Expanded Rhymes (Zengyun): to verify, to pledge. Analects (Lunyu): If a father steals a sheep, his son testifies against him. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): Ordered all statements and evidence to implicate the King. Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu): Collected past events to serve as verification and proof. Book of Song (Songshu): Investigated right and wrong, each marked with evidence. Also interchangeable with the character meaning to summon or verify. Book of Rites (Liji), Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong): Even if one is virtuous, there is no proof; without proof, one is not trusted. Commentary: If virtue has no clear proof, then the virtue is not trusted. The character meaning to summon is sometimes written as the character meaning to testify. According to the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun): Created by Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty.