Wei Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Meat (ròu) Kangxi stroke count: 9 Page 974, Entry 04 According to the Tang Rhyme (Tangyun) and the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), pronounced zhou. According to the Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), pronounced zhou. According to the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), pronounced zhou. The pronunciation is the same as the word for broom. The Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as the joint of the arm. The character is formed by the elements for meat and inch. The inch refers to the position of the pulse at the wrist. Xu Kai says the inch position is where the radial artery is located at the wrist. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes, As Arrows and Prickles: Described as if someone is holding a bow and arrow, bracing it with the elbow. Book of Rites (Liji), Jade Pattern: The length of the garment sleeve should be able to cover the elbow when bent. Also, regarding deep garments: the height of the seam at the armpit should allow the elbow to move freely. Zuo Tradition (Zuo Zhuan), Second Year of Duke Cheng: Zhang Hou said: Since the battle began, arrows have pierced my hand and elbow. Explaining Names (Shiming): The word for elbow implies to pour or reside, as it is a place where one can rest or hide things. General Dictionary of Characters (Zhengzitong): To be restrained by someone holding one's elbow is also called being elbowed. Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Kong Rong: Wishing to depart by carriage, he was repeatedly pulled by the elbow and blocked. Du Fu, poem on enjoying a muddy banquet with the Magistrate Yan: Long a guest, I cherish the human kindness of others; how can I refuse the old man from the neighbor's house? I ask loudly for fruits and chestnuts, but as I wish to rise, my elbow is pulled. Also a book title. The Book of Han (Hanshu), Treatise on Literature, records that the crossbow general Wang Wei wrote the Five Volumes of Elbow Methods. The Baopuzi, Earth Truth Volume, mentions that Cui Wenzi wrote the Elbow Sutra. According to the Collected Rhymes (Yunhui), one theory states that one elbow length is equal to two feet; another theory states that one foot five inches is one elbow, four elbows make one bow, and three hundred bows make one mile. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) notes it is sometimes written in a variant form. It is also used interchangeably with another variant form.