Chen Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Tree (mù) Entry: Shu Kangxi stroke count: 8 Page 514, Entry 02 Pronounced shu. Art of War (Sima Fa) records: Holding feathers and following the shu. Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) defines it as: Shu is the weapon held by soldiers. Commentary on the Rapidly Grasping (Jiji Pian Zhu) explains: It is made by stacking bamboo into an eight-sided shape and is erected on military chariots. The terms shu and shu have the same pronunciation and meaning. Some say they are the ancient and modern forms of the same character. Also, in the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), it is pronounced du (falling tone). It is the name of a type of tree.