Hai Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Fish (yú) Yao Kangxi stroke count: 21 Page 1476, Entry 08 Pronounced yao According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), the patterned yao is a type of fish. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing), the Guan River flows west into the shifting sands. In the water, there are many patterned yao fish. Their shape is like a carp, but the body of the fish has bird wings. They have blue patterns, white heads, and red mouths. They fly at night, and their cry sounds like a luan chicken. According to the Master Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals (Lüshi Chunqiu), the fish in the Guan River is called yao. Its appearance is like a carp but it has wings. According to the Classic of Extraordinary Wonders (Shenyi Jing), in the southeast sea, there is a warm lake. In the lake, there are yao fish, which are eight feet long. According to the Materia Medica (Bencao), the patterned yao is produced in the south of the sea. Large ones are about one foot long and have wings that are even with their tails. Another name for it is flying fish. They fly in groups above the surface of the water. People at sea who see them know it foretells that there will be a great wind. Textual Research: In the Materia Medica (Bencao), it is stated that the patterned yao is produced in the south of the sea, large ones are about a foot long, and have wings even with their tails. Following the original text, the phrase has been corrected to read even with their tails.