Hai Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Bird (niǎo) Character: Yi Kangxi stroke count: 21 Page 1497, Entry 07 Pronounced ni Identical to yi. This is a type of water bird. It resembles a heron but is larger in size. Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu), sixteenth year of Duke Xi, records that six yi birds flew backwards over the capital of the Song state. Commentary notes: A water bird. The Guliang Commentary writes it as yi. Additionally, in the Rhapsody on Sir Vacuous (Zixu fu) by Sima Xiangru in the History of the Former Han (Qian Han shu), it mentions ships decorated with colorful yi bird patterns. Commentary notes: Yi is a type of water bird. Its image is painted on the prow of ships. The Huainanzi (Huainanzi), section on Basic Essence (Benjing xun), mentions dragon boats and boats painted with yi bird heads, where music is played on the water for entertainment. Also interchangeable with the character yi. In the Seven Exhortations (Qi ming) by Zhang Xie, one rides a yi boat for water amusements, approaching the fragrant grass island to pluck cloud-fungus.