一切經音義 64.39

64.39

媒法 (Rules regarding match-making: pronounced with the fanqie 每杯 [méi]. Zheng's commentary on the Zhouli states: "'Matchmaker' (媒) has the sense of 'to plot' (謀); it refers to bringing different surnames together to achieve harmony." The Shuowen jiezi also states: "Joining two surnames together. Derived from 女 [woman] with 某 phonetic." 某 is pronounced 某 [mǒu]; derived from 木 [tree] with 甘 phonetic. The Erya writes it as 某, which is an error.)