Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Character: qì Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 210, Entry 02 Ancient script. Pronounced qì (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi states: the mouth of various vessels; what the dog guards. Guangyun states: vessel or utensil. Book of Changes (Yijing), Commentary on the Appended Statements: That which has form is called a vessel. Commentary: that which has taken shape is called a vessel. Book of Documents (Shujing), Canon of Shun: Like the five vessels. Commentary: vessels refers to jade tablets and disks. Also, Book of Rites (Liji), Royal Regulations: The mute, deaf, lame, crippled, and dwarfs among the various craftsmen are each provided with food according to their vessels (capabilities). Commentary: vessel means ability. Analects (Lunyu): When he employs people, he weighs their vessels (talents). Commentary: Judge a person's talent and capacity before giving them an official position. Also, Analects (Lunyu): How small the vessel (capacity) of Guan Zhong is! Commentary: Meaning his magnanimity is small. Also a surname. Found in the Surname Garden (Xingyuan). Also, rhymes with qì (entering tone). Cao Zhi, Eulogy for the Three Cauldrons of the Yellow Emperor: The essence of the cauldron is refined, the divine vessel of the ancients. The Yellow Emperor cast it to represent the Great One. Jiyun states: sometimes written as a variant form. Yupian states: commonly written as a variant form.