Chou Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Earth (tǔ). Kangxi strokes: 11. Page 231, Entry 05. According to Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), pronounced shi. According to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), pronounced shi. According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it refers to sticky earth. In the Book of Documents (Shangshu), chapter Tribute of Yu (Yugong), it says: Its soil is red, sticky, and fertile. Also, the work of a potter is called kneading the sticky earth. In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), chapter Winter Officials, Records of Trades (Kaogongji), it mentions the craftsman who kneads the sticky earth. In the Zhuangzi, chapter Horse's Hoof (Matipian), the potter says: I am skilled at working with sticky earth. Also, a blind person taps the ground with a staff before walking, which is called tapping the earth to find a path. In the Yangzi, chapter Cultivating the Self (Xiushenpian), it says: Tapping the earth to search for the path, walking in the dark is all there is. It is sometimes written in a variant form. Also, according to the Categorized Rhymes (Leipian), pronounced zhi. It is the same as the character for sticky earth.