Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) 蓍 Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1051, Entry 16 Archaic form. Pronounced shi. Book of Odes (Shijing), Cao Wind: Soaking those clumped milfoil stalks. Commentary: Milfoil is a type of grass. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters): A genus of mugwort. Used in the Book of Changes (Yijing) for divination. The Son of Heaven uses milfoil nine feet long; the feudal lords use seven feet; high officials use five feet; scholars use three feet. Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall (Baihu tong): The word shi signifies reaching maturity (qi), representing the old age of yang. Book of Changes (Yijing), Appended Statements: The virtue of milfoil is round and spiritual. Han Family Commentary on the Book of Odes (Hanshi waizhuan): Confucius went out for an excursion and found a woman crying in the marsh. Confucius asked her why, and she replied: Just now, I was cutting milfoil for firewood and lost my milfoil hairpin. Also pronounced zhi. Same meaning.