Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Short-tailed bird (zhuī) Character: Wild goose Kangxi stroke count: 12 Page 1364, Entry 24 Pronounced yan (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters): A type of bird. Formed from the radical for short-tailed bird, with a phonetic element derived from person and cliff. Pronounced like the character for wild goose. Note: Xu Xuan stated that the wild goose is a bird that understands the timing of seasons. Officials used it as a token of sincerity, and it was used in wedding rites, which is why the character includes the element for person. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Explanations of Birds: The category of ducks and wild geese. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Bei: The harmonious calling of wild geese. Further details are provided under the note for the character wild goose in the bird radical section.