Shen Collection, Lower Volume. Radical: Insect (chóng). Character: Shuai. Kangxi stroke count: 17. Page 1095, Entry 31. Pronounced shuai. Pronounced shuai. Pronounced shuai. Pronounced shuai. Refers to the cricket. Book of Odes (Shijing), Tang Odes: The cricket is in the hall, the year is drawing to a close. Commentary: Lu Ji states that the cricket resembles a locust but is smaller, entirely black, with a luster like lacquer, and possesses antennae and wings. It is also called gong, or qinglie. People in the Chu region call it wangsun, and people in Youzhou call it quzhi. A common saying goes: When the quzhi chirps, the lazy woman is startled. This is the creature. Ancient and Modern Notes (Gujin Zhu): The cricket is also called yingqiong. It is born in early autumn and chirps when it encounters the cold. Shuowen Changjian: Kaiyuan Yishi (Events from the Kaiyuan Era) records that people in the palace kept crickets in golden cages as a pastime for amusement. In the Shuowen Jiezi, it is written in a variant form.