（别录上品）
【气味】辛，微温，无毒。
【主治】主风水毒肿，去恶气。
【核】曰∶出天竺，及海南诸国，今岭南州郡悉有，傍海处尤多。奇干连枝，岗岭相接。
材理虚柔，凌冬不凋。皮膜作纸，沾水易烂。小者拱抱，大者数围。体如白杨，叶如橘柚，
花如 穗，实如小槟。未经斧斤者，虽百岁之本，亦不孕香。若半老之木，其斜枝曲干，斫
凿成坎，雨露浸渍，斯膏脉凝聚，渐积成香。凡三等∶其一，即斫凿之坎，气聚色变，木端
棕透，切而取之，入水轻浮者为黄熟。其二，津沫营注，木理坚实，剥而取之，入水或浮，
或半浮者为栈香，栈香，速香也。其三，脂液所钟，酝结成魄，或自脱，或解取，入水沉底
者为沉香；品亦凡四∶曰熟结，曰生结，曰脱落，曰虫漏；虫漏者，因蠹隙而结也；脱落者
，因水朽而结也；生结者，因斫凿而结也；熟结者，因自腐而结也，故熟结一名死结。死结，
则全体膏脉，凝聚成香，此等之至上，品之至贵者也。顾四结总属一木，奇状甚多，凡四十
有二。如角沉、革沉、黄沉、乌沉、水碗、承露、青桂、黄蜡、茧栗、菌芝、金络、叶子、
麻叶、竹 、机梭、附子、马蹄、牛头、燕口、 刺、龙鳞、乌刺、虎胫、鸡骨、蓬莱、虎
班、弄水、鹧鸪斑、仙人杖，及为杵，为臼，为肘，为拳，为山石，为槎 ，为凤雀龟蛇，
云气人物，种种肖象，既所禀不侔，亦复优劣有异。各俟其形全气足而后采取，功力始备。
今岭南人不耐其成，每多趋利伐贼之害，唯 管黎人，非时不妄剪凿，故屡获异香。虽纤薄
如纸，入水亦沉，万安黎母山东峒者，更冠绝天下，一片尝值万钱，以东峒日钟朝阳之气，
其香更幽酝于他产耳。若舶上来者，臭多腥烈，尾烟必焦，交址海北者更甚。故南人不甚重
之，此皆沉香等品奇状也。而奇南一香，原属同类，因树分牝牡，则阴阳形质，臭味情性，
各各差别。其成沉之本，为牝，为阴，故味苦浓，性通利，臭含藏，燃之臭转胜，阴体而阳
用，藏精而起亟也。成南之本，为牡，为阳，故味辛辣，臭显发，性禁止，系之闭二便，阳
体而阴用，卫外而为固也。至若等分黄栈，品成四结，状肖四十有二则一矣。第牝多牡少，
独奇南世称至贵。即黄栈二等，亦得因之以沦高下，沉本黄熟，固坎端棕透，浅而材白，臭
亦易散；奇本黄熟，不唯棕透，而黄质邃理，犹如熟色，远胜生香， 炙经旬，尚袭袭难过
也。栈即奇南，液重者，曰金丝。其熟结、生结、虫漏、脱落四品，虽统称奇南结，而四品
之中，又各分别油结、糖结、蜜结、绿结、金丝结，为熟、为生、为漏、为落，井然成秩耳。
大都沉香所重在质，故通体作香，入水便沉，奇南虽结同四品，不唯味极辛辣，着舌便木。
顾四结之中，每必抱木，曰油、曰糖、曰蜜、曰绿、曰金丝，色相生成，亦迥别也。凡使沉
香，须要不枯，如觜角硬重，沉没水下者为上。用纸裹怀中，候暖，乳研易于成粉。
【 】曰∶沉，质，香，臭也，盖土爰稼穑，稼穑作甘，黍甘而香，故香从甘黍，宜入
脾。脾味甘，脾臭香，脾谷黍故也。设土失黄中体，通理用者，咸可夺之，诚脾土之阳分药，
方剂之对待法也。上列证名，不待诠释，当判然矣。主清入喉，益人心，即子令母实，若上
实下虚，下寒上热，又当顾名思义。如骨节不任，便淋肠闭，亦属具体亡用，第加一转语耳。
其
想更特异。沉以力行行止为用，奇以力行止行为体。体中设用，用中具体，牝牡阴阳，互
呈先后，可默会矣。
[Recorded in the Upper Grade of Bie Lu]
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats wind-water toxic swelling, removes foul qi.
[Analysis] It is said: Agarwood originates from Tianzhu (ancient India) and various countries south of Hainan. Currently, it is found in all prefectures and commanderies of Lingnan, especially abundant in coastal areas. Its unique trunks connect with branches, and ridges meet one another. The wood texture is void and soft, remaining evergreen through winter. The bark membrane can be made into paper but rots easily when wet. Small trees require two arms to embrace, while large ones require several people to encircle. The body resembles that of a white poplar, leaves like citrus or pomelo, flowers like spikes, and fruits like small betel nuts. Trees that have not been cut by axes, even if they are centuries old, do not produce resin. If the tree is semi-mature, its slanting branches and curved trunks, when chopped and carved into depressions, allow rain and dew to soak and infiltrate, causing the sap veins to condense and gradually accumulate into agarwood. Generally, there are three grades: The first is the depression itself where chopping occurred; qi gathers and color changes, the wood end turns brown and transparent. When cut and taken, those that float lightly in water are called Huangshu (Yellow Ripened) agarwood. The second is where sap and foam circulate, making the wood grain solid; when peeled and taken, those that float or half-float in water are called Zhanxiang (Stack Fragrance), also known as Suxiang (Fast Fragrance). The third is where lipid fluids concentrate, brewing and condensing into essence; whether naturally detached or manually extracted, those that sink to the bottom in water are Chenxiang (Agarwood); its quality is further divided into four types: Shujie (Ripened Knot), Shengjie (Raw Knot), Tuoluo (Detached), and Chonglou (Insect Leak). Chonglou forms due to insect holes; Tuoluo forms due to water rot; Shengjie forms due to chopping and carving; Shujie forms due to natural decay, hence Shujie is also named Sijie (Dead Knot). Sijie means the entire body's sap veins condense into fragrance; this category is the highest grade and most precious. However, these four knots all belong to the same tree, exhibiting many strange shapes, totaling forty-two varieties. Such as Jiaochen (Horn Agarwood), Gechoen (Leather Agarwood), Huangchen (Yellow Agarwood), Wuchen (Black Agarwood), Shuiwan (Water Bowl), Chenglu (Receiving Dew), Qinggui (Green Cinnamon), Huangla (Yellow Wax), Jianli (Cocoon Bud), Junzhi (Mushroom), Jinluo (Golden Net), Yezi (Leaf), Maye (Hemp Leaf), Zhujie (Bamboo Joint), Jisuo (Shuttle), Fuzi (Aconite), Matou (Horse Hoof), Niantou (Ox Head), Yankou (Swallow Mouth), Ci (Thorn), Longlin (Dragon Scale), Wuci (Black Thorn), Hujing (Tiger Leg), Jigu (Chicken Bone), Penglai (Penglai), Huban (Tiger Stripe), Nongshui (Playing Water), Zhengubban (Partridge Spot), Xianrenzhang (Immortal Staff), as well as shapes resembling pestles, mortars, elbows, fists, mountains, rafts, phoenixes, sparrows, turtles, snakes, clouds, qi, and figures. Since their endowments differ, their superiority and inferiority vary. They must be harvested only after their shape is complete and qi is sufficient for their efficacy to be fully prepared. Nowadays, people in Linglan cannot wait for maturity and often harm them for profit by indiscriminate logging. Only the Li people do not arbitrarily cut or chop them out of season, thus frequently obtaining rare fragrances. Even if thin as paper, they sink in water. Those from Dongtong on Limu Mountain in Wan'an are superior to all others in the world, with a single piece worth ten thousand coins. This is because Dongtong absorbs the qi of the morning sun, making its fragrance more profound and brewed than other origins. Those brought by ships often have a strong, fishy odor, and the tail smoke is inevitably scorched; those from Jiaozhi and Haibei are even worse. Therefore, southerners do not highly value them. These are all the strange shapes of agarwood and similar products. Qinan (Kynam) is originally of the same category, but because trees are distinguished as male and female, their yin-yang form and substance, odor, flavor, temperament, and nature each differ. The base forming Chen (Agarwood) is female, yin, so its taste is bitter and strong, its nature is penetrating and unblocking, its odor is hidden, and when burned, the odor becomes stronger. It has a yin body but yang function, storing essence and rising urgently. The base forming Nan (Qinan) is male, yang, so its taste is pungent and spicy, its odor is manifest and emitting, its nature is astringent and stopping, closing the two excretions. It has a yang body but yin function, guarding the exterior and maintaining solidity. As for equal-grade Huangzhan (Yellow Stack), forming four knots and resembling forty-two shapes, they are identical. However, females are more common than males, and uniquely, Qinan is renowned as the most precious. Even among Huangzhan grades two and above, high and low distinctions can be made based on this. Chenben (Agarwood base) is Huangshu, naturally having brown transparency at the cut end, being shallow and white in material, and its odor dissipates easily. Qiben (Qinan base) is Huangshu, not only showing brown transparency but also possessing deep yellow texture and fine grain, resembling ripened color, far surpassing raw fragrance; even after baking for days, the lingering scent remains overpowering. Zhanxiang is Qinan; those with heavy liquid are called Jinsixian (Gold Thread). The four categories of Shujie, Shengjie, Chonglou, and Tuoluo, although collectively called Qinan Knots, within these four, are further divided into Youjie (Oil Knot), Tangjie (Sugar Knot), Mijie (Honey Knot), Lüjie (Green Knot), and Jinsijie (Gold Thread Knot), classified as ripe, raw, leak, and drop, orderly arranged. Generally, the value of Chenxiang lies in its quality, so the whole body acts as fragrance and sinks immediately in water. Although Qinan also forms the four knots, its taste is extremely pungent and spicy, causing numbness upon touching the tongue. However, among the four knots, each must embrace the wood, named Oil, Sugar, Honey, Green, Gold Thread; their colors and forms generated naturally are also distinctly different. When using Chenxiang, it must not be dry; those hard and heavy like horns, sinking underwater, are superior. Wrapped in paper and held against the chest to warm, it grinds easily into powder.
[Lu Zhiyi] says: Chen refers to the substance, Xiang refers to the odor. Earth governs sowing and reaping; sowing and reaping produce sweetness; millet is sweet and fragrant. Thus, fragrance derives from sweet millet and is suitable for entering the Spleen. The Spleen's flavor is sweet, and its odor is fragrant, due to the Spleen's association with millet. If Earth loses its central yellow substance and fails to communicate its principles and functions, it can be seized; it is indeed a medicine for the Yang aspect of Spleen Earth, serving as a counterbalancing method in prescriptions. The syndromes listed above need no interpretation and should be clearly judged. It primarily clears the throat and benefits the Heart, which is "son reinforcing mother." If there is excess above and deficiency below, cold below and heat above, one should interpret according to the name. For example, joints unable to bear weight, dysuria, and intestinal obstruction also belong to "substance without function," merely adding a transitional phrase. His thoughts are even more unique. Chenxiang uses force to act and stop, while Qinan uses force to stop and act as its substance. Substance contains function, and function contains substance; male and female, yin and yang, present themselves sequentially, which can be intuitively understood.