Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Character: Hou Kangxi Stroke Count: 15 Page 1044, Entry 20 Pronounced hou. According to the Sound Rhymes of the Tang (Tangyun), the pronunciation is hou. According to the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), it is the name of a type of grass. According to the Literary Expositor (Erya), in the chapter Explaining Grasses, it is identified as a type of sedge. Note that in the original text of the Literary Expositor, this is written as hou.