Si Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Fire (huǒ) Kangxi Strokes: 10 Page 671, Entry 01 Pronounced zheng Shuowen Jiezi (Dictionary of Graphic Components): Heat rising upward. Book of Odes (Shijing), Great Odes (Daya): Steam rising in billows. Commentary: Placing food in a steamer and cooking it with fire. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Words: A ruler. Book of Odes (Shijing), Great Odes (Daya): King Wen is truly a good ruler. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Words: To offer or present. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Canon of Yao: The appearance of virtuous and honest conduct. Book of Odes (Shijing), Eulogies of Zhou (Zhousong): Offering to ancestors. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Words: Many or numerous. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Counsels of Yu (Yiji): Only when the people are numerous can they be fed. Also: Book of Documents (Shangshu), Establishment of Government (Lizheng): Yi, Wei, Lu, and Zheng. Cai Chen’s Commentary: Regarding Zheng, some believe it means numerous, others believe it is the name of a tribe. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Phrases: Dust. Notes: When many people gather, dust is stirred up. Also: Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Bin (Binfeng): Staying in the mulberry fields. Commentary: Zheng means to place or set aside. Also: Little Odes (Xiaoya): Covering for a long time. Note: Zheng means dust; it is used to describe a long duration of time. Zhu Xi’s Commentary: Zheng is a particle used at the beginning of a sentence. Also: Book of Odes (Shijing), Eulogies of Lu (Lusong): A magnificent and bright appearance. Commentary: Zhengzheng means thick and heavy. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Lessons: A prosperous appearance. Note: The appearance of things rising and flourishing. Also: Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Heaven: Winter sacrifices are called zheng. Note: Offering various ritual items. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Announcement of Luo (Luogao): The year of holding the winter sacrifice. Also: Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling): Holding the grand drinking rite. Commentary: Zheng means to ascend, placing the sacrificial meat onto the ritual stand. Discourses of the States (Guoyu): When sacrificing to heaven and earth, there is the complete sacrificial offering known as Quanzheng; when kings and dukes hold rites involving standing to drink, there is the partially butchered offering known as Fangzheng; when relatives feast, there is the bony meat offering known as Xiaozheng. Also: Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Rites for Special Food Offerings: Dates are steamed and chestnuts are selected. Note: Fruits often have skins and pits; they are steamed and wrapped to honor guests. Also: Yang Xiong’s Dialects (Fangyan): Zheng means illicit sexual relations. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), Year 16 of Duke Huan: Duke Xuan of Wei had an illicit relationship with Yijiang. Note: Illicit relations with a superior are called zheng. Also: Rhyme Collection (Yunhui): Commonly written as the variant form (zheng). Also: Five Tone Rhyme Collection (Wuyin Jiyun): Pronounced zheng (rising tone). Describes the appearance of vapor rising and drifting far away. Also: Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun), Collective Rhymes (Jiyun): Pronounced zheng (falling tone). Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun): Heat. Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Sultry heat. Also: Collective Rhymes (Jiyun): Vapor rising and passing through. Sometimes also written in a variant form (zheng). Also: Rhyming with the character ju: Pronounced jiang. Han Dynasty School Official Inscription: The imperial grace is vast, benefiting my common people, granting us Lord Pan to govern this Liyang. Textual Research: In Erya, Interpretation of Heaven, it says winter sacrifice is at zheng. Following the original text, zheng has been corrected to zheng.