一切經音義 4.70

4.70

Slender and long (纖長: [纖 is] pronounced *x[iang]* + *[y]an* [xiān]. The *Guangya* says: "*Xian* means minute." The *Fangyan* says: "Small." The *Shuowen [jiezi]* says: "Fine." It is classified under silk (糸) with *xian* (韱) phonetic. Another explanation says of the character 韱 that it is classified below under *fei* (非) with *jian* (箋) phonetic; *jian* is pronounced *j[ie]* + *[y]an* [jiān]; two people follow each other, pronounced *c[ong]* [cóng], and it has *ge* (戈). In the sūtra it is written with earth (土) and *fei* (非) as [韱-(人*人)], which does not form a character. The lower character [長] is pronounced *zh[ang]* + *[l]iang* [cháng]. Zheng [Xuan]'s commentary to the *Odes* says: "*Chang* means distant." The *Guangya* says: "Constant." The *Shuowen [jiezi]* says: "Enduring." It is classified under *wu* (兀); *wu* conveys the sense of high and distant. It is also classified under *bi* (匕), pronounced *h[ua]* [huà]; after a long time things transform. Above, it is classified under 𰀄, with *wang* (亾) phonetic; *wang* (亾) is a reversed character. In ancient Seal script it was written [巢-果+(厂@(夕*ㄆ))]; in modern clerical script it is written 長, with the upper part like the vulgar character 云; *wu* and *hua* below have both become variant shapes that can no longer be distinguished).