Page:Elementary Chinese - San Tzu Ching (1900).djvu/50

32 Huo is a picture of flames; it influences the south, and is the name assigned to Mars. When at the bottom of a character, in combination, it is expressed by four dots (lines, ).

Mu was originally written with the horizontal line bent upwards at each end; it was thus a picture of branches in the air and roots in the ground. It influences the east, and is the name assigned to the planet Jupiter.

Chin is composed of 土 t'u earth, with two lumps inserted to represent ore, and 今 chin now, present, which gives the sound. It is specially the yellow metal, which knows no defilement and may be melted again and again without losing weight, q.d. gold. It is also commonly used to mean silver, as in money calculations in which gold does not appear. It influences the west, and is the name assigned to the planet Venus.

T'u is supposed to be a picture of plants springing from the soil. It is the name assigned to the planet Saturn.

Tz'ŭ see.

Wu see.

Hsing is supposed to represent two steps, the three strokes on the left being a step with the left foot, known as the double-man radical, and those on the right a step with the right foot. It means to walk, to act, to operate. Read it means conduct; and read, a row, a series, from which is taken the word hong, a place of business.