Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Food (shí) Character: Zan Kangxi stroke count: 28 Page 1427, Entry 28 Ancient textual records: According to Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is zan. According to Jade Chapters (Yupian), it is defined as pouring soup over cooked rice. In the Nine Laments (Jiusi) of the Songs of Chu (Chuci), there is a passage: "About to perish like shattered grains, the times are in chaos like rice topped with soup." The commentary explains this as being as disordered as rice with soup poured over it. Additionally, the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun) records: A food made by frying rice in oil. Dictionary Supplement (Zihui bu) also records a variant form (zan).