Shen Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Insect (chóng). Character: Shrimp. Kangxi stroke count: 15. Page 1090, Entry 15. Pronounced xia. Pronounced xia. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), this refers to a toad. In the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Tales of the Tortoise and Milfoil, it is noted that when the moon acts as the deity of punishment and execution, it is eaten by the toad. In the History of the Former Han Dynasty (Qianhan Shu), Annals of Emperor Wu, it is recorded that in the autumn of the fifth year of the Yuanding era, frogs and toads fought one another. In the Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang (Youyang Zazu), it is stated that toads lack intestines. There is also a bird called the toad-protector. The Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang (Youyang Zazu) states that at the foot of the Southern Mountains, there is a bird called the toad-protector that often frequents fields. It has a crest on its head, gray plumage, red feet, and a shape similar to a heron. There is also a vehicle known as the toad-cart. In the History of the Southern Dynasties (Nanshi), Biography of Yin Yan, it is recorded that the former Right Army General Du Shubao and others urged Yin Yan to join a rebellion. The Emperor dispatched Liu Mian to lead a western expedition; they constructed a large toad-cart, loaded it with soil, covered it in ox-hide, and pushed it to fill in defensive moats. There is also a beast called the frog-clam (xiaha). Sima Xiangru’s Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park (Shanglin Fu) mentions trapping the frog-clam. For further details, see the entry for the character clam (ge). Also, in the Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced xu, having the same sound as the character for shrimp (xia). It refers to the name of an insect. According to the Collection of Characters (Pianhai), it is interchangeable with the character for shrimp (xia). In the Wings to the Erya (Erya Yi), it is noted that the shrimp has many whiskers, is adept at swimming, and enjoys jumping. Nowadays, in the Fujian region, there is a five-colored shrimp, over one foot long, possessing five distinct colors. The plum shrimp appears during the plum rain season. The reed shrimp is green and is said to be transformed from reeds. The mud shrimp is transformed from rice blossoms and mostly lives in muddy fields. There is also the mantis shrimp, shaped like a centipede, also known as the pipe shrimp. The Records of the Cave of Dark Wonders (Dongming Ji) records the existence of the cinnabar shrimp, ten zhang long, with whiskers eight feet long and a nose like a saw. In Zhang Heng’s Rhapsody on the Southern Capital (Nandu Fu), it mentions the variegated shrimp winding like a snake. Textual research: In Zhang Heng’s Rhapsody on the Southern Capital (Nandu Fu), the original text contains the word dragon; however, it has been corrected here to variegated in accordance with the original source.