straw
藁 centers on dried plant stalks used as material: straw, especially for thatching, fodder, or crafts.
藁 combines 艹 (grass) with 高 and 木, suggesting tall grass or plant material used for straw. The exact historical development is uncertain.
The top 艹 is grass, and below it 高 (tall) sits over 木 (tree/wood). Picture tall dried grass stalks bundled like wood: that's straw.
For コウ, imagine a cow (コウ) chewing on a bundle of straw: cow -> コウ, and the straw feeds the cow.
straw
central stalk of a dried rice plant
(stable) litter
straw post for training sword strikes, karate punches and arrow hits
close-range fletched practice arrow
(animal's) litter; bedding
new straw; straw from the current year
a drowning man will clutch at a straw
grass and straw (as fodder for horses, etc.)
rich or poor, a man is a man; a man whose hair is tied with straw is still a man
to grasp at straws; to resort to desperate measures
hoping against hope; desperately hoping; as a last hope
to grasp at straws; to resort to desperate measures
to grasp at straws; to resort to desperate measures
straw doll; straw figure; straw effigy
making things out of straw (winter work for farmers)
mound of straw; pile of straw
straw wedding (anniversary); second wedding anniversary
straw-thatched roof
straw futon; straw mattress; palliasse