Page:Elementary Chinese - San Tzu Ching (1900).djvu/21

Rh Shan was originally composed of 羊 yang sheep and 言 yen words  doubled. The latter portion has been corrupted, and the character is now classed under radical 口 k'ou mouth. It is noteworthy that sheep enters into several characters referring to excellence, duty, property, etc. See.

Hsing see.

Hsiang is composed of 目 mu eye as radical and 木 mu tree, and originally meant to peer, to scrutinise. It is explained in the Canon of Changes as inability to see through trees, hence to look at; which may be compared with the derivation of lucus a non lucendo. In this sense it is now read. Read, it means mutual, reciprocal; but it is often a complementary particle of very elusive value, signifying direction towards anybody or anything.

Chin is composed of 斤 chin an axe-head, a Chinese pound weight (= 1⅓ lb. av., probably adopted from the weight of the axe-head) as phonetic, and the contraction of an obsolete word 辵 cho (辶 in composition) meaning to go on and stop as radical. The latter is commonly seen in characters dealing with movement, and is popularly known as the walking radical.

Hsi is composed of 羽 yü feathers as radical and 白 pai white, and seems to have been associated with young birds practising flight.

Hsiang see.

Yüan is composed of the walking radical and a common phonetic.