Wei Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Self (zì) Kangxi Strokes: 16 Page 1000, Entry 32 Broad Rhymes (Guangyun): Pronounced nie (falling tone). Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced nie (entering tone). Broad Rhymes (Guangyun): Nie-wu, indicating instability. Book of Changes (Yijing), Hexagram of Oppression (Kun Gua): The topmost line says, oppressed by vines and creepers at the perilous ridge. Commentary: Nie-wu is the appearance of swaying and being insecure. Book of Documents (Shangshu), Oath of Qin (Qin Shi): Written as wu-nie. Han Yu, Poem presented to Liu Sifu: Written as wu-nie. One edition writes it as a variant form (zuan). Also written as wu-nie. The character nie was originally written with the wood radical.