Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) Kangxi Strokes: 17 Page 936, Entry 03 Ancient form. In the Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) and Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced zǒng. In the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Rhyme Anthology (Yunhui), it is also pronounced zǒng. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means to gather and bind. Xu Xuan states: the current common form is an error. The Broad Rhymes says it means to combine or to include all. It is commonly written in a variant form. In the Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the Instructions of Yi (Yixun) chapter: The hundred officials gather their duties. In the Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan), seventh year of Duke Xi: If you gather their criminals to overlook them. The commentary states: Zǒng means to lead or command. In the History of the Former Han (Qianhan), Biography of Yang Xiong: Unlocking the gathered reins of the Fusang tree. The commentary states: Zǒng means to tie or knot. In the Lament (Lisao) by Qu Yuan: Confused and gathered are their separations and unions. The commentary states: Zǒng zǒng is similar to gathering together, meaning to assemble. Furthermore, according to the Explaining Names (Shiming): Zǒng means to bind the hair, to gather it and bind it. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Qi: Hair gathered in tufts like horns. The commentary states: Zǒng means to gather the hair to form two horns. In the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Mourning Rites: A headdress of six levels of fineness. The commentary states: A headdress of six levels of fineness refers to a head ornament resembling a cap. Also, a sheaf of grain is called a zǒng. In the Book of Documents (Shujing), Tribute of Yu (Yugong) chapter: For every hundred li, the tax includes the gathered harvest. The commentary states: Zǒng refers to gathering the stalks, grain ears, and straw of the harvest and delivering them together. Also, regarding the tax on total cloth: In the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Offices of Earth, Marketplace Officials: The tax on total cloth. The commentary states: Zǒng is read like the word for tax. Cloth refers to the taxes collected from the keepers of measuring containers and scales. Note: The sounds and meanings of the various forms are distinct. Currently, the common usage conflates them, which is incorrect. See the entry for the character zǒng for details.