Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Hong Kangxi strokes: 15 Page 1044, Entry 19 Pronounced hong According to the Essential Dictionary of Characters (Yupian), it is a water plant. According to the History of the Northern Dynasties (Beishi), in the Biography of Murong Yan, reeds and Hong were piled up for several miles to block the path of ships.