Chen Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Death (dǎi) 殀 Kangxi Stroke Count: 8 Page 579, Entry 20 Pronounced yao. According to the Expanded Rhymes (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), the pronunciation is based on the characters yu and zhao; the Rectified Rhymes (Zhengyun) bases the pronunciation on the characters yi and niao. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), this means to die. To die prematurely is called yao, which is the opposite of longevity. Mencius (Mengzi) states: Whether one dies prematurely or lives a long life, do not let this uncertainty disturb your mind. Also written in a variant form (yao). Also means to cut short or kill. In the Book of Rites (Liji), section Royal Regulations (Wangzhi), it states: Do not kill the unborn, do not cut short the young. The commentary by Zheng Xuan states: Yao means to cut short or kill. To cut short the life of the young is called yao.