Chen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Sun (rì) 昰 Kangxi strokes: 9 Page 494, Entry 01 Explanation from Discussing Writing and Explaining Characters (Shuowen Jiezi): The character 昰 is the original form of the character for to be (shì). Furthermore, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the ancient form of the character for summer (xià) is written as 昰. For detailed annotations, see the entry under Radical: Go slowly (suī) at seven strokes.