Shen Collection, Upper Volume
Radical: Grass (cǎo)
Zheng
Kangxi strokes: 16
Page 1050, Entry 07
Tang Rhymes (Tangyun) states: Pronounced zheng.
Shuowen Jiezi explains: To peel the central part of hemp stalks.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes: Recorded as with firewood and zheng.
Annotation (Jianzhu): The thick pieces are called firewood (xin), the thin pieces are called zheng.
Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Heaven: Recorded as leading subordinates to use firewood and zheng to assist the external and internal cook officials in their duties.
Commentary (Shu): Small items that grow naturally are called zheng. Also indicates a multitude.
Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes: Recorded as Heaven created the multitude of people.
Also refers to a place name.
Annals of Wu and Yue (Wuyue Chunqiu): Recorded that the King of Wu summoned Gongsun Sheng and sent his disciples to take him to Zhengqiu.
Also interchangeable with zheng.
Erya, Explanations of Heaven: Recorded that winter sacrifices are called zheng.
Annotation (Zhu): Offering various sacrificial gifts.
Also, Categorized Chapters (Leipian) states: Pronounced zheng (falling-rising tone). Refers to vapor rising upward.
Liezi Annotation: Warm vapor is like scorching fire, pronounced with a falling tone.
Pan Ni, Rhapsody on Bitter Rain: Vapors touch the rocks and condense, rising upward; clouds gather and drift aloft.
Distinctions of Sounds in the Classics (Qunjing Yinbian): For the character zheng, the zheng in zheng sacrifices often omits the grass radical, using this form for firewood and zheng.
Textual Research: Rites of Zhou, Office of Heaven: Leading subordinates to use firewood and zheng to assist the external and internal cook officials in their duties. Annotation states: Small items that grow naturally are called zheng. Carefully following the original text, changed external and internal to internal and external. Changed annotation to commentary.