Shen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Insect (chóng) Entry: Nie Kangxi Stroke Count: 22 Page 1102, Entry 14 Pronounced nie. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), the strange manifestations of grass, trees, and weeds are called yao, while the strange manifestations of birds, beasts, insects, and locusts are called nie. The Six Categories of Graphs Corrected (Liushu Zheng'e) states that this is a variant form, which is incorrect. Common usage uses the character meaning offspring (nie), which is also incorrect. Also means sorrow. In the Songs of Chu (Chuci), Heaven's Questions (Tianwen) section: Qi succeeded Yi, and the lord eventually encountered this nie. The commentary explains: This refers to Yu, who ceded the world to Yi; yet all the people left Yi and turned to Qi, and Yi was never able to take the throne, thus it is said he encountered this sorrow. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) also records this as a variant form.