Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Ear (ěr) Kangxi Strokes: 18 Page 970, Entry 01 Pronounced zhi. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): To record the subtle. Xu states: The state possesses six duties, all of which govern the subtleties of recorded affairs. Zengyun (Additional Rhymes): To hold in charge. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Ancient Words: Duty means to govern. Boya (Broad Elegant Expressions): Duty means affair. Book of Documents (Shujing), Zhou Offices: The six ministers divide their duties, each leading their subordinates to take the lead over the nine regional governors. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Offices of Heaven, Grand Minister: The ninth is the idle populace, those without constant duty. Commentary: This refers to those who have no established occupation. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Chancellor Zhang: Lord Pei appointed Zhou Chang to the position of banner-bearer. Commentary: Duty means to govern. Zhi refers to banners. This refers to the official in charge of banners. Also: Constant. Also: Tribute. Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), 28th Year of Duke Xiang: To supply their duty and tribute. Huainanzi (Huainan Masters), Exposition on the Original Way: Guests from overseas submit and bow, and the four barbarian tribes pay tribute. Commentary: Duty means tribute. Also: Solely or exclusively. Classic of Poetry (Shijing), Greater Odes: The people have no limits; they exclusively rely on those who are seemingly honest but good at turning their backs. Commentary: They exclusively rely on petty men who claim to be upright and sincere but are in fact good at betraying others. Also: Yang Xiong, Regional Dialects (Fangyan): Lianzhi means to sympathize. When people sympathize with one another, in the regions of Wu and Yue this is called lianzhi. Also: Zhizhi means many or abundant. Zhuangzi (Zhuangzi), Chapter on Supreme Joy: The ten thousand things are numerous. Also: A surname. Genealogy of Surnames: In the Rites of Zhou, there is the Office of the Registrar (Zhifangshi); later, people took their official title as their surname. Customs of the People (Fengsutong): Descendants of Zhi Hong, the Prefect of Shanyang during the Han dynasty. Also: Pronounced te. A wooden stake. The Rites of Zhou mentions the position of "staker" (zhiren). People from Qi and Yan read it this way. Sometimes written as a variant form (zhi) or a variant form (er). Also: Pronounced yi. The meaning is the same. Also: Used interchangeably with the character for banner (zhi). Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Shusun Tong: At this time the Emperor’s carriage emerged from the chamber, and the hundred officials held their banners to signal for vigilance. Commentary: Zhi is pronounced zhi.