Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Jade (yù) Kangxi stroke count: 11 Page 731, Entry 08 Pronounced er (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): A gemstone ornament for the ear. Xu Shen states: The shape of the ornament is straight at the head and pointed at the end, used to plug the ear. Yupian: A pearl worn on the ear. Yunhui: Also called an ear pendant. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of External Relatives: The lady removed her hairpin and ear ornaments to kowtow. Book of Han (Hanshu), Biography of Dongfang Shuo: Thereupon he descended from the hall, removing his hairpin and ear ornaments. Commentary: Er, pronounced er (falling tone). An object made of pearl or jade used to decorate the ear. Also, Boya: The end part of a sword hilt is called a tan. Songs of Chu (Chuci), Nine Songs: Hand grasping the long sword with jade-decorated hilt, the ornamental jade pendants strike against each other with a clear, tinkling sound. Commentary: Er, pronounced er (falling tone). Also identical to the variant form er (er). Huainanzi, Lanming Xun: Commentary on the silkworm playing with silk thread and the shang-tuned string breaking: Er, in some versions written as er, refers to playing with silk in the mouth. Also implies to insert. Zuo Si Poetry: Seven generations wearing marten tail ornaments on the cap. Tongdian: In the Han dynasty, the palace attendant inserted it on the left, and the regular attendant inserted it on the right. Also, a halo of light beside the sun. Book of Han (Hanshu), Treatise on Astronomy: Beside the sun there are ba-er and rainbows. Commentary: Meng Kang states: These are all cloud formations beside the sun. The shape of the er contains dark spots. Ru Chun states: Whenever cloud formations are above the sun, they are called crowns or headgear; when they are directly beside the sun, they are called er. Also, Zhou Rites (Zhouli), Earth Offices, Mountain Warden: Deliver the game and cut off the left ear. Commentary: Er refers to cutting off the left ear of the game to record merit. Also identical to the variant form er (er). Zhou Rites (Zhouli), Spring Offices, Si Shi: Arrange the sacrifices according to the order of the four seasons, as well as the associated qi-er rites. Commentary: Er should be er. Zheng Xuan states: Er should be er. Qi-er is a ritual of blood sacrifice. Also, pronounced er (rising tone). The meaning is the same. Also, pronounced reng. To slaughter livestock for blood sacrifice. Citing the Zhou Rites, performing the er sacrifice at the Altar of the Soil and Grain. Note: The Summer Offices, Officer of the Youth, governs the er sacrifices at the Altar of the Soil and Grain. The Zheng Commentary notes: Er should be er. The current character form is derived from jade.