螳 Stroke Order

螳 (táng) 1. Mantis; an insect that is entirely green or earth yellow, with a triangular head and sickle-shaped forelegs. It preys on pests and is beneficial to agriculture, as in the phrase "the mantis catches the cicada, while the oriole is behind." Commonly known as "knife mantis"; abbreviated as "螳," as in "the mantis arm trying to stop a cart" (an idiom meaning lacking self-awareness of one’s strength). [En.] mantis 引 (influence) 1. From "Shuowen Xinjian": 螳, refers to mantis. 2. From "Yupian": 螳螂 (mantis), associated with the axe bug. 3. From "Zhuangzi · Tiandi": Just like the mantis raises its arms to block an approaching cart. 4. From "Zhuangzi · Shanmu": Sighting the cicada, it finds beautiful shade and forgets itself, while the mantis aims to catch it. 例 (examples) - 螳斧 (the mantis's forearms; referring to its forelegs raised as if holding an axe, thus named; also a metaphor for weak military equipment). - 螳螂之卫 (metaphor for weak military preparedness). - 螳臂 (metaphor for lacking self-awareness; weak strength). - 螳轮 (metaphor for those unaware of their limitations). - 螳臂拒辙, 螳臂当辙, 螳臂扼辙 (all variations of the idiom about a mantis trying to stop a cart).