Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) Character: Jian Kangxi Strokes: 16 Page 933, Entry 26 Pronounced jian Pronounced jian Pronounced jian According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen jiezi), it refers to a double-threaded silk fabric. According to the Explaining Names (Shiming), the name jian implies combining; its threads are fine and dense, with a count greater than that of common hemp cloth or silk gauze. When fine and dense silk is dyed, it produces five colors; it is fine and thick enough to hold water without leaking. According to the History of the Former Han (Qianshu), External Relatives Chapter, the old woman made a single-layered garment of jian for Weng Xu. The commentary states that jian is what is known today as plain silk.