Shen Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Clothing (yī) Character: Niao Kangxi Stroke Count: 13 Page 1116, Entry 35 Correct Meaning of Characters (Zhengzitong): This is a colloquial variant form of the character Niao. Rhyme Collection (Yunhui): Niao is sometimes also written as Niao. Commentary on the Book of Han (Hanshu Yinyi): Yaoniao is a type of legendary horse. Also, from the Table of Officers and Ministers in the Former Han (Qianhan Baiguan Gongqing Biao): The third rank of nobility is called Zan-niao. Commentary by Shigu (Shigu Zhu): Decorating a horse with silk ribbons is called niao. The meaning of zan-niao is to decorate this horse.