Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Big (dà) Kangxi stroke count: 13 Page 253, Entry 19 Pronounced ao (falling tone). The southwest corner of a room, a place where people rest. Book of Rites (Liji), Songs of Propriety (Quli): A son should not sit in the southwest corner of the room during ordinary times. Book of Rites (Liji), Evolution of Rites (Liyun): Human sentiment is like a field, and man is like the southwest corner of a room (representing the fundamental). Also refers to the worship of the Five Offerings. Rao Shuangfeng states: For the Five Offerings, first establish the seat of the primary sacrificer and offer sacrifices before the spirit tablet to express intimacy. Then, welcome the representative of the spirits, the impersonator (shi), to the southwest corner of the room to offer sacrifices, expressing reverence. Also refers to an official position. Records of the Eastern Pavilion of Han (Dongguan Hanji): During the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, the position of Secretary Supervisor (mishujian) was first established to oversee confidential affairs. Also refers to accumulation. Discourses of the States (Guoyu), Discourses of Zhou (Zhouyu): There is no dense vegetation in the wild. Also refers to culinary seasoning. Xunzi, Great Summary (Daluepian): Rice-washing water harms people, which is not as good as using seasoning to neutralize it. Also refers to a mountain name. Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing): Three hundred li east of Chouyang Mountain is Ao Mountain, where the Ao River originates. Also pronounced cuan (falling tone). Refers to the Kitchen God. Book of Rites (Liji), Evolution of Rites (Liyun): The sacrifice to Ao is a sacrifice to the old woman. Commentary: Ao should be written as cuan; when the sacrifice proceeds to the point where the impersonator has finished eating, one then sacrifices to the Kitchen God. That deity is the original cook, hence she is referred to as the old woman. Also pronounced yu (entering tone). Refers to a curved place by the water. Deep water is also called ao. It is interchangeable with the characters meaning a bay and a sheltered place. It is also synonymous with the character meaning warm. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes (Xiaoya): The weather is currently warm. History of the Han (Hanshu), Treatise on the Five Elements (Wuxingzhi): That punishment is often manifested as sultry weather. The character is composed of the radical for roof and the element for distinguish. The common form is written as an abbreviated version, which is incorrect. Zhengzitong states: The Compendium of Characters (Zihui) places this under the radical for two hands, but the pronunciation and explanation are repeated; they are now consolidated here. Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) states that the character ao derives its sound from the radical for roof, and is composed of the radical for roof and the element for distinguish. Being composed of the radical for roof and the element for distinguish, or being composed of the elements for all and distinguish, are neither of them standard characters.