Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Head (yè) Kangxi Strokes: 12 Page 1399, Entry 23 Pronounced xu. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Writing and Analysis of Characters): Hair on the face. Book of Changes (Yijing), Hexagram Bi: Adorning one’s beard (or facial hair). Commentary: That which is called a beard is what attaches to the upper part. Sub-commentary: The beard attaches to the upper part of the face. Shiming (Explanation of Names): Under the chin is called xu. Xu means shu (elegant or flourishing). A variant form is written as (xu). The vulgar form is written as (xu). Also means to wait. Book of Changes (Yijing), Hexagram Guimei: The maiden waiting for marriage. Book of Odes (Shijing), Beifeng: Others cross, but I do not; I am waiting for my friend. Also interchangeable with the character (xu). Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 12th year of Duke Cheng: The sun is already setting; my ruler is waiting. Erya (Approaching Nearness), Interpretation of Words: Xu means to wait. Also means property or to use. Interchangeable with (xu). Erya (Approaching Nearness), Interpretation of Beasts: For beasts it is called xin, for men it is called qiao, for fish it is called xu, and for birds it is called ju. Sub-commentary: These all refer to states where qi is exhausted and the body is weary, which is what is required, hence the title regarding xu. Also si-xu, equivalent to xu-yu (a short moment). Book of Rites (Liji), Record of Music: Propriety and music cannot be absent for even a single moment. Also means slow or sluggish. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 2nd year of Duke Cheng: If you do not wait a little, the masses will be exhausted. Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Biography of Prince Xiao of Qinghe: Also, wait for a little while. Commentary: In the Dongguan Ji, "wait a while" is written as "stay a while." Also Xu Nu, a star name. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Treatise on the Celestial Offices, Commentary on Wu Nu: The orthodox meaning states: Xu Nu consists of four stars. Also known as Wu Nu, the celestial minor treasury. Xu Nu is a term for a lowly female servant, one who performs the duties of a woman. Also a state name. Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu), 22nd year of Duke Xi: The Duke attacked Zhu and took Xuju. Gongyang Zhuan (Gongyang Commentary) writes it as Xuqu. Book of the Former Han (Hanshu), Treatise on Geography: Xuchang County in Dong Commandery, formerly the state of Xuju. Also, Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 4th year of Duke Ding: Distributed the drums of Mixu to Tang Shu. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals of Zhou: King Wen attacked Mixu. Commentary: The Mixu clan, a state of the Ji surname. It is the current Yinmi County in Anding. Also a city name. Book of Odes (Shijing), Beifeng: Thinking of Xu and Cao. Commentary: Xu and Cao are cities in the state of Wei. Also Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Treatise on Commanderies and States: In Nanyang Commandery, there is the Shunyang Xu settlement. Also a vegetable name. Erya (Approaching Nearness), Interpretation of Grasses: Xu, fen-wu. Sub-commentary: In the Book of Odes, "gathering the turnip, gathering the wild turnip." The commentary states that the fen is the xu. Earlier scholars identified it with fen-cong. Sun Yan said: Xu is another name for fen-cong. Also a grass name. Erya (Approaching Nearness), Interpretation of Grasses: Tai is fu-xu. Sub-commentary: Tai is another name for fu-xu. It is sedge grass. Also a bird name. Erya (Approaching Nearness), Interpretation of Birds: Ti is xu-lui. Sub-commentary: Ti is another name for xu-lui. Also a weapon. Ming: Xu-dun, originally from Shu. Xu refers to that which is held. Also Yang Xiong's Fangyan (Regional Dialects): Xu means tattered or ruined. In Southern Chu, when a person's clothing is poor and ugly, it is called xu-jie. Also a surname. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 17th year of Duke Zhuang: There is the Xusui clan. Strategies of the Warring States (Zhanguo Ce): The Wei grandee Xu Jia. Also a personal name. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 24th year of Duke Xi: Tou Xu, the attendant of the Duke of Jin, who guarded the treasury. Also Zuo Si, Rhapsody on the Capital of Wu (Wu Du Fu): Flag fish-xu. Commentary: Using fish whiskers as the staff of a flag. Also Pronounced ban. It means sorted or arranged. Book of Rites (Liji), Yuzhao: For the tablet, the grandee uses bamboo patterned with fish whiskers. Explanation of Characters: Cui says: It uses patterned bamboo and fish scales. The Hidden Meaning says: It decorates the edge of patterned bamboo with fish whiskers. Xu is pronounced ban. Also rhymes with qiu, pronounced xiu. Xi Fu Gong's Lament: Alas, if this is so, what else is there to stay for? Caressing the divine dragon, I grasp its whiskers. Lu Yun, Nine Laments: Life passes with its years exhausted; dwelling in silent words, what more is required? I will lightly ascend to travel afar, looking off into the distant celestial path and roaming high. Commentary: Xu means to seek. Xu's commentary on the Shuowen: This originally refers to the beard and whiskers. Ye means head; shan means hair decoration. It was borrowed to mean "to require." The vulgar script adds the water radical, which is incorrect. Master Mao says: Xu and (xu) are different. (Xu), pronounced fire and wai, means rotten.