Shen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Insect (chóng). 14 Kangxi strokes. Page 1086, Entry 11.
Pronounced qiang.
Yupian (Jade Chapters) defines it as a dung-eating beetle. Erya (Approaching Elegance), section on insects, identifies the beetle as a dung roller. The commentary notes that this insect is black, has wings beneath its shell, feeds on excrement, and enjoys rolling dung into spherical shapes. The Zhuangzi (Master Zhuang) suggests the wisdom of this beetle lies in its ability to roll dung.
Gujin Zhu (Notes on Past and Present) states that this beetle uses soil to pack dung into a ball, rolling it until it is perfectly round without edges. It is also called the ball-roller or the ball-player. Guanyinzi (Master Guan Yin), in the Four Talismans chapter, notes that once the beetle forms a dung ball, it concentrates its spirit within it; white larvae appear inside, which eventually emerge as insects. Piya (Amplified Elegance) records that although this beetle lacks a nose, it possesses a keen sense of smell.