Shen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Insect (chóng). Kangxi strokes: 13. Page 1083, Entry 21.
Pronounced shāo.
Shāoshāo, name of an insect. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Bin: "The shāoshāo is in the door." Commentary: The shāoshāo is a long-legged creature. Guo Pu says: A small spider with long legs, colloquially called the happiness child. Lu Ji says: Also called the long-leg. In Jingzhou and Henei, people call it the happiness mother; when this insect lands on a person's clothing, it indicates that a relative or guest will arrive, signifying joy. In Youzhou, people call it the relative-guest; it is just like a spider that builds a web to dwell in.
Also pronounced xiāo.
Erya (Erya), Interpretation of Insects: "The bug is the tanglang (mantis), its eggs are the pishāo." Commentary: Also known as jiao, these are the eggs of the mantis. Eya Yi (Erya Yi): The piaoshāo (mantis egg case) is found everywhere, with those on mulberry trees being the best; the Materia Medica (Bencao) identifies them as the mulberry mantis egg case.
Also a name for a fish. Erya Yi (Erya Yi): The cuttlefish in the sea has a back shaped like a gambling die, and it also carries the name piaoshāo.
Also a surname. Comprehensive Records of Clans (Tongzhi Shizulüe): When Prince Zixiang of Badong rebelled against Emperor Wu of Qi, his family name was changed to Shāo.