Shen Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Clothing (yī) Character: Shen Kangxi Stroke Count: 17 Page 1123, Entry 24 Pronounced sen. Shen-sen describes the appearance of clothes and feathers hanging down. From Yang Xiong’s Rhapsody on the Sweet Springs (Ganquan Fu): Oh, how it hangs in flowing folds. From Mu Hua’s Rhapsody on the Sea (Hai Fu): Covered in the hanging plumage of wings. Also pronounced shan. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), originally written as the character for a banner’s hanging ribbons. In the commentary on the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), the central belt is likened to modern trouser crotches. According to the History of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), section on Coaches and Attire: All varieties of ancient, ornate garments decorated with jade and green borders are prohibited from being worn. The commentary notes that Sima Xiangru’s Rhapsody on the Great Master (Daren Fu) describes the repeated decoration of the Xunshi star pattern used as a hanging ornament. Note: The ribbons hanging under a carriage canopy appear similar to the streamers of a banner. According to the Classified Collection of Characters (Leipian), it is sometimes also written in a variant form (xian), referring to the hanging of the Xunshi pattern as a border decoration for banners.