Rites of Zhou
Chinese classics variously record that "shèn" was salted as a food (in the "Zuo Zhuan"), named a "lacquered wine barrel" used in sacrifices to earth spirits (in the "Rites of Zhou"), and its shells were used to make hoes (in the "Huainanzi") and receptacles (in the "Zhuangzi"). They also record two "shèn-"compounds related with funerals: "shènchē" (, with cart or carriage) "hearse" ("Rites of Zhou", Guo Pu's commentary notes "shèn" means large, shell-like wheel rims) and "shèntàn" () "oyster-lime; white clay", which was especially used as mortar for mausoleum walls ("Zuo Zhuan", "Rites of Zhou").