Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Silk (mì) Kangxi stroke count: 14 Page 929, Entry 14 Pronounced zi. From Explaining Graphs and Analysis of Characters (Shuowen jiezi): Black-colored silk. From Notes on Etymology (Boya): Zi is referred to as zao (black). From Explanations of Names (Shiming): Zi means residue. As mud, when black, is called residue, this color is similar. From Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Zheng: How appropriate the black robes are. Commentary: Zi means black color. From Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Offices, Record of Artificers, Zhong Clan: Seven dippings result in zi. Annotation: The reddish-black color is dyed repeatedly with black until it becomes zi. Pronounced zhi. Meaning is the same. Pronounced zi. Pronounced zi. From History of the Former Han (Qian Hanshu), Ban Gu Narrative Biography: Dyed, yet not turned black. Annotation: Shigu says the combined rhyme is pronounced in the rising tone. Pronounced zi. Meaning is the same.