Shu is composed of 孰 shu, as phonetic, with 火 huo fire underneath as radical. This phonetic shu was the original character for cooked, ripe; but inasmuch as it was also used for another sound shu meaning who? what? the two senses were separated as time went on by the insertion of the radical fire whenever shu meant cooked or ripe, to distinguish it from shu who? what? Thus it was that the growing exigencies of the language called into existence new characters to divide the burden of meanings. [The commentary puts the study of the Four Books before that of the Filial Piety Classic, an order which is still observed. See line 113.]
| 133. | 如 | 六 | 經 | the next step is to the Six Classics, | |
| Ju1 | liu4 | ching1 | |||
| Follow | six | canon |
Ju is composed of 女 nü woman as radical, and 口 k'ou mouth. It is explained as a woman following the injunctions of her father and husband; hence, to go towards, to arrive. In later times it came to be used in the senses of like, as, if, and also in an introductory sense "with regard to," etc.
Liu see line 75.
Ching see title.
| 134. | 始 | 可 | 讀 | which may now be studied. | |
| Shih3 | k'o3 | tu2 | |||
| Begin | can | read |
Shih is composed of 女 nü woman as radical, with 台 i (line 130) as phonetic. It is defined as "the beginning or birth of woman," and is the opposite of 終 chung (line 113). See also lines 200, 212, 293.
K'o is composed of 口 k'ou mouth as radical, and an obsolete word meaning vapour striving to free itself. It originally meant to be willing.
