ABSTRACT
RIJ is really a vulgar form of IJD. and does not appear in the Shuo Win. In practice, however, it has gradually become a distinct character with special meanings of its own, and I have therefore followed my edition of the standard text in retaining this form throughout the chapter. In VI. § 25, on the other hand, the correct form IJD will be found. The evolution of the meaning "spy" is worth considering for a moment, provided it be understood that this is very doubtful ground, and that any dogmatism is out of place. The Shuo WI1t defines 00 as ~I (the old form of ~) "a crack" or "chink," and on the whole we may accept f* ~~ HSii Ch'ieh's analysis as not unduly fanciful: *- r, ~ M M ffii Jt JJ * :!l: iff 1m 111 -tit "At night, a door is shut; if, when it is shut, the light of the moon is visible, it must come through a chink." From this it is an easy step to the meaning "space between," or simply "between," as for example in the phrase :tf: * fJJ, ~ "to act as a secret spy between enemies." Here jI is the word which means "spy i" but we may suppose that constant association so affected the original force of I»J ' that • could at last be dropped altogether, leaving rm to stand alone with the same signification. Another possible theory
is that the word may first have come to mean Pll "to peep" (see t. fit, quoted in K'ang Hsi). which would naturally be suggested by "crack" or "crevice," and afterwards the man who peeps, or spy.
