You Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Cowrie (bèi) Kangxi stroke count: 23 Page 1213, Entry 13 Pronounced xuan. Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen) defines this as the meaning of to separate. The character structure is composed of the radical for two tigers facing each other and the element for competing over cowrie shells. In the Wei Capital Rhapsody (Wei du fu) by Zuo Si, there is the line: Reeds and rushes separate, cattails and bulrushes grow dense. The commentary notes that this refers to the act of separating. Additionally, the Erya (Erya) records: A xuan is a powerful wild beast. The commentary notes that it originates from the Great Qin state in the Western Sea; those who tame this animal find it looks like a dog, possesses great strength, and has a ferocious and violent temperament. Another source suggests it refers to fighting against one another. Some argue the character shape represents an inverted tiger, but this is incorrect. Note: The Zhengzitong erroneously provides the pronunciation as yin. The pronunciation recorded in Shuowen Jiezi (Shuowen) for the character with that sound is a different character, not the character xuan.