Shen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Insect (chóng). Kangxi strokes: 17. Page 1095, Entry 04.
Tang Rhymes (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Collected Rhymes for Official Use (Yunhui), Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun): Pronounced tang.
Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen): A mantis.
Book of Rites (Liji), Monthly Ordinances (Yueling): In the middle of summer, the mantis is born. Commentary: The mantis is the mother of the mantis egg case (piaoxiao).
Yang Xiong, Dialect (Fangyan): The mantis is called mao. Guo Pu's commentary: It is an insect with an axe, known in the Jiangdong region as the stone mantis (shilang). Also called biting wart (heyou).
Spring and Autumn of Wu and Yue (Wuyue Chunqiu): The autumn cicada climbs a high tree, unaware that the mantis is leaping from branch to branch and tracing its form.
Zhuangzi, In the World of Men (Renjianshi): Do you not know of the mantis? It raises its arms in anger to obstruct a carriage wheel, not knowing that it is not equal to the task.
Han Dynasty Illustrations of the Odes (Hanshi Waizhuan): When Duke Zhuang of Qi went hunting, a mantis raised its legs to strike at the wheel. He asked his charioteer, who replied: As an insect, it knows only to advance and not to retreat; it does not measure its own strength and recklessly approaches the enemy.
Also the name of a river. Commentary on the Water Classic (Shuijing Zhu): The Yi River flows southeast, and the Mantis River enters it.
Also the name of a district. Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi): Mantis District produces silver, lead, white copper, and various medicines; it contains Mantis Aconite (fuzi).