The term "Erya" means "approach to the proper" and is mere a thesaurus than a real dictionary. The intention of this dictionary is to explain the true meaning and interpretation of words in the context of the Confucian Classics. This is the only reason why this encyclopedical dictionary was incorporated into the corpus of the Confucian Canon. The headings of the nineteen chapters explain the content of the sections, making it an encyclopedia for the use of ancient venerated texts. At the same time we see here a classification that is the basis for the later encyclopedical classification.	Chapters of the Erya 1.釋詁 Shi Gu Explaining adjective verbs 2. 釋言 Shi Yan Explaining verbs 3. 釋訓 Shi Xun Explaining binome verbs 4. 釋親 Shi Qin Explaining kinship 5. 釋宮 Shi Gong Explaining architecture 6. 釋器 Shi Qi Explaining utensils 7. 釋樂 Shi Yue Explaining music 8. 釋天 Shi Tian Explaining astronomy 9. 釋地 Shi Di Explaining geography 10. 釋丘 Shi Qiu Explaining hills 11. 釋山 Shi Shan Explaining mountains 12. 釋水 Shi Shui Explaining rivers 13. 釋草 Shi Cao Explaining smaller plants 14. 釋木 Shi Mu Explaining trees 15. 釋蟲 Shi Chong Explaining scaly animals 16. 釋魚 Shi Yu Explaining fishes 17. 釋鳥 Shi Niao Explaining birds 18. 釋獸 Shi Shou Explaining beasts 19. 釋畜 Shi Chu Explaining domestic animals
	Exemplarious translation: １．釋詁 初、哉、首、基、肇、祖、元、胎、俶、落、權輿，始也。[...] 如、適、之、嫁、徂、逝，往也。[...] 典、彝、法、則、刑、範、矩、庸、恆、律、戛、職、秩，常也。柯、憲、刑 、範、辟、律、矩、則，法也。 Explaining attributes Starting tailoring chu, commence to speak zai, head shou, base ji, ancestor zu, principal yuan, embryo tai, building up chu, coming from above luo, undertaking a transport quanyu, all means "beginning shi". Being obedient ru, arriving shi, leaving for zhi, marrying a man jia, advancing cu, departing shi, all means "going to wang". Being a statute dian, regulating yi, levelling fa, being standard ze, punishing xing, modelling fan, serving as carpenter's square ju, being common yong, regular heng, musically tempered lü, straight like a lance jia,employed zhi, ordered xu, all means "what is the rule chang". Straight like a trunk ke, being a law xian, punishing xing, modelling fan, governing bi, musically tempered lü, serving as carpenter's square ju, being standard ze, all means "making a common level fa". ８．釋天 穹蒼蒼，天也。 春為蒼天，夏為昊天，秋為旻天，冬為上天。四時。 春為青陽，夏為朱明，秋為白藏，冬為玄英。四氣和謂之玉燭。春為發生，夏 為長嬴，秋為收成，冬為安寧。四時和為通正，謂之景風。甘雨時降，萬物以嘉，謂之醴泉。祥。 Explaining the Heaven Round-hollow and very blue, this is Heaven. In springtime, Heaven is blue; in summertime, bright; in autum, clear; in wintertime, Heaven is wide up. These are the four seasons. In springtime, there is a greening sunwarmth; in summer, a reddish enlightening; in autumn a blank storing; and in winter a dark blossom. If all these expressions are harmonious, [the year] is called "jade candle". The spring gives birth; the autumn grows the adult; in autumn the harvest is completed; and in winter there is a peaceful tranquillity. If the harmony of the four seasons is thorough and correct, [the year] is called "illustrious wind". If the sweet rain comes down to the right time, the many things are at their best, it is called "sweet spring". This means luck. Translated by Ulrich Theobald