Research on Chinese Animal Naming

Author: Li Haixia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: According to, Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu·Linhua section: "Jiyu, shaped like a split bamboo knife, hence the various names." Ji means to cut. The term "Miao Dao" refers to a bamboo knife, as Li suggested. (Yi, the smaller ones are squid) The smaller ones can only escape. The military strategy says: "If not better, then one can escape." Gui Dian's New Interpretation of Erya, explaining fish) According to, characters derived from the sound of Zhao often have a small meaning, implying their small size. Huang Kan's Erya Sound Training·Explaining Livestock: "Small birds are called peach insects, small deer and small birds are called peach, just as small sheep are called tiao. Shuowen Jiezi states: 'Yao, a sheep that has not yet reached a full year.' Small fish are called Yao. Explaining Fish: 'Yi, the smaller ones are silk.'"