Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Xiao Kangxi Stroke Count: 15 Page 206, Entry 32 Tangyun, Zhengyun: Pronounced xiao (falling tone). Jiyun, Yunhui: Pronounced xiao (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi: The sound of whistling. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Shao and Nan: To whistle is to sing. Commentary: To whistle means to purse the lips and emit a sound. Also, in the Odes of Lesser Omen: Whistling and singing to soothe the spirit. Sima Xiangru, Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park: A long whistle and a mournful cry. Record of Gleanings (Shiyi ji): During the Former Han dynasty, in the west, there was the Kingdom of Yin-Xiao where the people were skilled at whistling. The whistling of the men could be heard over a hundred li away, and the whistling of the women could be heard over fifty li away. New Account of Tales of the World (Shishuo xinyu): A divine personage suddenly appeared in the Sumen Mountains. Ruan Ji went to observe him and let out a long whistle toward him for a long time. The divine personage then laughed and said: You may whistle again. Later, when Ruan Ji’s whistling intent was exhausted and he had retreated halfway down the mountain, he heard a long sound coming from above, like several sets of wind and percussion instruments playing in unison, echoing endlessly through the mountain forests and valleys. Turning back to look, it was indeed the man from before letting out a long whistle. Also, Jiyun: Pronounced su (entering tone). Blowing air as if singing. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Wang: The woman is separated, she sings a long whistling note. Explication of Texts: The character was originally also written as a variant form. Also, Jiyun, Zhengyun: Pronounced chi (entering tone). Same as the word for shout. Book of Rites (Liji), Pattern of the Family: Do not whistle and do not point. See the previous entry for the character meaning to shout for detailed information. The character is composed of the radical for mouth and the character for bird (you). The character has sixteen strokes.