Wei Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Bamboo (zhú) Tai Kangxi strokes: 20 Page 902, Entry 53 Pronounced tai. A bamboo hat, used to protect against rain. In the Poem Presented to Minister Shen by Xie Tiao, it is written: Gathered in hats in the eastern field. The commentary states that the character means to protect against rain. In ancient times, it was used interchangeably with the character pronounced tai. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), it is recorded: Hats made of sedge and bamboo, with hair gathered in tufts.