Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Character: Ying Kangxi Stroke Count: 20 Page 214, Entry 11 Pronounced ying. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it refers to the chirping of birds. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), Small Odes (Xiao Ya): Birds chirp ying ying. In the Literary Expositor (Erya), Explanation of Teachings (Shixun): Ying ying refers to mutual admonition and straightforwardness. Commentary: Ying ying represents the chirping of two birds, a metaphor for friends who cut and polish one another to reach self-correction. Also, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is written interchangeably as the variant form yang. In Zhang Heng’s Thinking Rhapsody (Si Fu): The ringing of the jade carriage bells goes yang yang. Correction: In the Literary Expositor (Erya), Explanation of Teachings (Shixun), the text reads ying ying refers to mutual admonition and straightforwardness. The commentary states ying ying is the chirping of two birds. Based on the original text, the phrase has been corrected from the chirping of birds to the chirping of two birds.