Zi Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Person (rén) Kangxi Strokes: 5 Page 92, entry 10 Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui), and Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced zhàng (falling tone). It is a collective term for weaponry such as swords and halberds. Under the institutions of the Tang dynasty, the guards stationed beneath the palace stairs were called the zhang. The Treatise on Ceremonial Guards (Yiweizhi) records: During imperial audiences, the ceremonial guard units were provided by the three guard bureaus on a rotating basis, divided into five categories. They wore swords and carried weapons, standing in formation under the east and west corridors. Forty-six men stood daily outside the inner corridor pavilions, known as the inner zhang. After the audience, the ceremonial guards were withdrawn; when the Son of Heaven traveled, there were ceremonial guards such as the fine zhang and the yellow banner zhang. Also, in the Book of Huainan (Huainanzi), regarding the Original Way (Yuandaoxun): When walking in high, dangerous, or steep places, do not forget what you rely upon. The commentary states: Zhang refers to the path. It also refers to relying upon or depending on something. In the commentary to the Book of Odes (Shijing), Great Odes (Daya), Youfeng Youyi: The meaning of feng is that which can be entrusted or relied upon. It is also interchangeable with the character zhang (walking stick). In the History of the Former Han (Qianhanshu), Biography of Li Xun: The close ministers at one’s side are no longer sufficient to be relied upon. The commentary notes: Zhang is interchangeable with zhang. Also, in the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Dictionary of Rhymes (Yunhui), it is pronounced zhǎng (rising tone); in the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is also pronounced zhǎng (rising tone). The meaning is the same. Note: For zhang used to denote weaponry or equipment, both the rising tone and the falling tone pronunciations are used. Only when used to denote relying upon or depending on something does it lack the rising tone pronunciation.