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[Classified as Top Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*]
Whether crooked, upright, fallen, or bent, mulberry trees grow vigorously. Their branches, trunks, leaves, and fruits each possess unique specialties. Among plants that fully embody the characteristics of Wood, none surpass it; here, we specifically discuss the silk threads within the leaves. Indeed, the textures and fibers of its branches, trunks, bark, and roots are also orderly and distinct.

[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats internal injuries, five types of chronic fatigue (Wu Lao), six types of extreme exhaustion (Liu Ji), emaciation, metrorrhagia (Beng Zhong), interrupted pulse, tonifies deficiency, benefits Qi, eliminates chills and fever, and induces sweating.

[Examination] It is said: Mulberry trees are found everywhere. The flowers, fruits (mulberries), branches, and bark have equal efficacy. Leaves can be picked frequently and regenerate quickly; branches can be pruned frequently and regrow rapidly. Even if branches are removed leaving only the trunk, new branches sprout abundantly from the trunk. With abundant leaves for silkworms to eat and versatile timber, the whole plant possesses specialized qualities, making it a top-grade herb that is easy to cultivate among shrubs. The *Erya* states: Mulberries are distinguished by their fruit. Those with fruit are called "Zhi" (Zhī). It also says: There are female mulberries, [specific type], and mountain mulberries. Guo Pu's commentary notes: "Bian" means half. "Zhen" is synonymous with "Shen" (fruit). Half have fruit, half do not, called "Zhi". Trunks small with long branches are called "Female". Leaves slender with sharp lobes and rough bark texture are called [specific type]. The silk from this mulberry can make qin and se instruments. Mountain mulberry resembles mulberry but its wood is suitable for bows and crossbows; both are excellent materials, rarely matched by other trees. Li Shizhen states: There are several types of mulberry: Branches distinct and forked yield few fruits but lush leaves; White mulberry has large, thick leaves; Mountain mulberry has pointed, long leaves; Chicken mulberry has patterned, thin leaves; Zi mulberry fruits before leafing out; Wanghai mulberry grows tens of feet tall, lush and canopy-like. If yellow fungus grows on mulberry, it is called Gold Mulberry, indicating the root will soon wither. The *Book of Tree Planting* says: Planting mulberry roots with turtle shell promotes growth and prevents insect damage. The *Dian Shu* states: The essence of the Ji star scatters to form mulberry trees. The Ji star belongs to Water. The Turtle spirit resides in Kan (North/Water), so mulberry consumes turtles. Su Dongpo said: Old lutes lose sound; wiping them with mulberry leaves restores their brightness. The *Bencao* states: Mulberry roots exposed above ground are called "Horse Forehead", toxic and fatal. Roots growing horizontally and emerging are called "Crouching Snake", also toxic. Because it can treat heart pain, Wu Su in the *Lei Fu* wrote: Crouching Snake treats pain, Horse Forehead kills. Processing: Harvest tender roots from the eastern side of trees older than ten years. Scrape off one layer of greenish-yellow thin bark using a copper knife. Take the inner white bark, slice, and bake dry. Do not remove the mucilage in the bark. Duanxuan (Radix Dipsaci), Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex), and Maziren (Cannabis Fructus) act as guides. Avoid iron and lead.

(Wang Pan said: There are many varieties of mulberry, impossible to list all. Commonly known are Jing mulberry and Lu mulberry. Jing mulberry bears much fruit; Lu mulberry bears little. Leaves are thin, pointed, and lobed at the edges in Jing mulberry. Any variety with tough, sturdy branches, twigs, and leaves belongs to Jing mulberry. Leaves round, thick, and juicy belong to Lu mulberry. Any variety with plump branches, twigs, and leaves belongs to Lu mulberry. Jing mulberry has firm roots and solid cores, living long, suitable for timber trees. Lu mulberry has loose roots and hollow centers, living shorter lives, suitable for ground mulberry. However, Jing mulberry's foliage is less lush than Lu mulberry's. Grafting Lu mulberry branches onto Jing mulberry allows longevity and lushness. Lu mulberry, as ground mulberry, can be propagated via layering, ensuring continuity. Silkworms fed on Jing mulberry produce tough, high-quality silk, referred to in the *Yu Gong* as "fine silk". Commentary notes "Xian" refers to mountain mulberry, the finest of Jing mulberry. Lu mulberry suits small silkworms; Jing mulberry suits large silkworms. Grafting is the best propagation method, including body grafting, root grafting, bark grafting, branch grafting, eye grafting, and splice grafting. Cultivation benefits are vast; adding grafting transforms weeds into fine grain and stones into jade. After grafting, pests must be removed. Liu Zongyuan said: I heard tree cultivation mirrors human governance. Rulers should emulate this. People are the foundation of the state; establishing the foundation stabilizes the state. Promoting the foundation while removing harm is the way of governance. Practicing this diligently not only encourages sericulture but also reveals the root of education and policy.

The *Jiyao* states: The nature of mulberry seeds lies in distinguishing hardness and softness. Proper cultivation ensures appropriate use. Timing and local conditions are crucial. Seedlings are planted, transplanted, spread, cultivated, and pruned. Pruning involves thinning rows to encourage lush, early growth, preventing starvation for young silkworms. Pruning is especially important when grafting. Grafting requires harmonious weather, careful technique, secure binding, and thick wrapping to prevent cold stagnation.

Guo Zizhang said: In the late spring month of the *Monthly Ordinances*, officials are ordered not to cut mulberry and zanthoxylum. When turtledoves flutter and hoopoes land on mulberries, queens prepare baskets. Queens fast and personally harvest mulberry facing east, prohibiting women from watching, reducing female labor, and encouraging sericulture. After success, cocoons are sorted and silk weighed to provide garments for sacrifices. No one dares to be lazy, thus encouraging the world. Trees suit specific soils, but mulberry suits all. If mulberry suits all, sericulture is possible everywhere. The *Odes of Bin* says: Women carry deep baskets seeking tender mulberry, implying Bin supports sericulture. The *Ode Jiang Zhongzi* says: Do not break my mulberry trees, implying Zheng supports sericulture. The *Ode Che Lin* says: Mulberry on slopes, poplar in lowlands, implying Qin supports sericulture. The *Ode Meng* describes mulberry leaves falling, symbolizing decline. The *Ode Sang Zhong* mentions meetings under mulberry, implying Wei supports sericulture. The *Ode Huang Yi* mentions pruning mulberry, implying Zhou supports sericulture. The *Yu Gong* records Yanzhou mulberry soil suitable for sericulture, offering woven goods, implying Lu supports sericulture. Qingzhou offers fine silk. Guan Zi states: Soil suitable for five grains supports mulberry, implying Qi supports sericulture. Jingzhou offers black silk, implying Chu supports sericulture. Mencius told King Hui of Liang: Plant mulberry on five mu of land, implying Liang supports sericulture. Can Cong established Shu, wore blue, taught sericulture, implying Shu supports sericulture. Like farmers relying on grains, unless in extremely cold regions like Longdui or Huse, cultivation is possible. Currently, sericulture is sparse. Southeast looms in Sanwu, Yue, and Min rely on Hu cocoons; Northwest looms in Luzhou rely on Lang cocoons. Traveling through Hu and Lang, seeing scattered mulberry bushes, I envy the textile skills of these two commanderies but worry about laziness elsewhere. If one woman does not spin, others suffer cold. How can fifty-year-old men lack silk? Idleness leads to licentiousness, corrupting morals. Gongfu Wenbo's mother said: The Queen weaves black silk; nobles add decorations; ministers' wives make sashes; appointed ladies make sacrificial robes; scholars' wives add court dress; commoners wear husbands' clothes. On She Day, tasks are assigned; in autumn, merits are presented. Men and women show merit; faults bring punishment. This is ancient law. Even in ministerial households, the mistress spins. How can we let women become idle and licentious? Sericulture is codified in laws: 5-10 mu fields plant half acre of mulberry/hemp/cotton; over 10 mu double this. Though neglected, the rituals of the *Monthly Ordinances*, the penalties for neglect in Lu, and the legal quotas cannot be ignored.)

My ancestor said: Mulberry is eaten by silkworms; thus, mulberry is the source (Heaven) of silkworms. Silkworm substance becomes silk; thus, silk is the essence of silkworms. Threads resemble human hair and meridians. Hair expands to eyebrows/beard; meridians expand to muscle layers. Deepening further, meridians are pathways for Ying Blood. If meridians are damaged and Ying Blood collapses, or Ying Blood depletes causing meridian drought, diseases arising from pulses can be treated with mulberry.

[Meridian Tropism/Organ Affinity] It is said: In late summer, fire from burning mulberry and zanthoxylum is used. Mulberry enters the Spleen channel, acting as a Heart medicine for the Spleen, because threads resemble vessels, and the Heart governs vessels. Silk relates to the five tones; bark is hard like leather; white color corresponds to Metal; thus, it can enter the Lung channel, acting as a Lung medicine for the Spleen. Its vigorous growth despite bending reflects full Wood nature, entering the Liver channel, acting as a Liver medicine for the Spleen. Essence in fruits is black and cold, entering the Kidney channel, acting as a Kidney medicine for the Spleen. Although entering the Five Zang organs, it primarily targets the Spleen. However, injury to Central Earth causes Five Zang fatigue and extremity. Emaciation is Muscle Extremity; metrorrhagia and interrupted pulse are Vessel Extremity. Mulberry governs Central Fire (Note: Textual logic may imply Spleen Earth generating Metal or specific theory), and its thread property is supreme, thus treating Muscle and Vessel extremes effectively. Tonifying deficiency tonifies Spleen Earth. Benefiting Qi benefits Central Qi. Threads in leaves allow the leaf to connect to the Heart to eliminate chills and fever, as sweat is the fluid of the Heart.