Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) Character: si Kangxi Stroke Count: 15 Page 931, Entry 03 Ancient form. According to the Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), pronounced si. According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Rhyme Compilation (Yunhui), pronounced si. According to the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), pronounced si. According to the Analytical Dictionary of Chinese Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to fifteen-thread linen cloth. Another interpretation is cloth made of two parts hemp and one part silk. According to the Explanation of Names (Shiming), si means silk; when spinning hemp, the threads become as fine as silk. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), it refers to the three-month mourning period. According to the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili), Mourning Attire (Sangfu) commentary: Si refers to fifteen-thread cloth, taking half the threads; when the threads are worked, the cloth is called si. The annotation explains: It is called si because the threads are processed to be as fine as silk. According to the Book of Rites (Liji), Great Treatise (Dazhuan): At the fourth generation, one wears the si mourning attire, which is the end of the mourning obligations.