Wei Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Bamboo (zhú) Jiao Kangxi strokes: 12 Page 882, Entry 25 Pronounced yao. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): A bamboo rope. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Treatise on the Yellow River and Canals: Pulling up long reeds and sinking beautiful jade. Annotation: A rope made of bamboo or reeds is called jiao. Guangya: Jiao means a rope or cord. Also, the name of a flute. Erya, Explanations of Music: A large flute is called yan, and a small one is called jiao. Annotation: It has sixteen pipes, each one foot and two inches long. Commentary: The smaller one has a sound that is high and thin, hence it is called jiao. Jiao means small. Also, pronounced jiao. The meaning is the same.