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[Recorded in the Upper Grade of Bie Lu]
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily serves to calm the heart and settle the spirit (Zhen Xin), stabilize the soul and魂魄 (An Hun Po); removes epidermal films and obstructions; when applied to the face, it makes the skin lustrous and complexion rosy; when applied to hands and feet, it removes inverted calluses or hyperkeratotic growths on the skin.

[Analysis] It is said: According to the *Yu Gong* (Tribute of Yu), pearls were offered by the Huai Yi region; later periods saw production from the South Sea, North Sea, Western Road of Sichuan and Shu, Nü Gua, Tang Luo in Hebei, and occasionally in the lakes and marshes of Jiangnan. *Ling Biao Lu Yi* records: In the coastal areas of Guangzhou, there are islands with large pools of clear, clean water, called Pearl Pools. Each year, the prefect personally supervises pearl divers entering the pool to collect old clams and extract pearls for tribute. *Guangzhou Zhi* records: In the sea of Hepu County, there are three pools named Mei, Qing, and Ying. The Yan people (a minority group) tie long ropes around their waists, carry baskets into the water, gather pearl oysters into them, then vibrate the rope to signal boatmen to haul them up quickly. If blood floats on the surface, the diver has likely been eaten by fish. Xiong Taigu's *Ji Yue Ji* records: I once saw Yan people enter the sea and bring back several loads of "pearl trees," resembling willow branches. Clams grow on these trees, which grow on rocks; one must chisel the rock to find the tree to seek the clam, which is quite strange. Li Fang stated: Pearls from the South Sea are mostly produced where Stone Conch (Shi Jue Ming) is found; those from Nü Gua are merely common clams. *Lu Yi* records: The clams of the North Sea differ slightly in species. One type resembles the Giant Pen Shell (Jiang Yao), having pearls in its abdomen, but they are inferior to the fantastical and abundant pearls of Hainan. Zong Lin stated: Pearls in the Tang Luo of Hebei can reach an inch in circumference, with a slight red hue; their pearl oysters also differ from those in Guangzhou. However, pearls from clear flowing water are bright white; those from turbid water are dark; Southern pearls are red; Western pearls are white; Northern pearls are slightly green, each varying according to local characteristics. *Ge Gu Lun* records: For Southern barbarian pearls, those that are white, round, and luminous are superior; those from west of Guangxi are secondary; for Northern Sea pearls, those slightly green are superior, while powdery white and oily yellow are inferior; for Western Barbarian Horse-Price Pearls, those green like jade are superior, while those mixed with stone texture in older specimens, or powdery green/smoky oil colors, are inferior. *Nan Yue Zhi* records: Among the superior categories of pearls, there are nine types. Those ranging from five fen to eight qian in size are considered large-grade, possessing luster; those resembling gold plating on one side are named Zhu Zhu; next come Zou Zhu, Hua Zhu, [unclear character] Zhu, Xiao Xiang Zhu, Zi Mu Zhu, Fu Tu Zhu, Bei Di Zi Zhu, etc. *Pi Ya* records: Turtles reproduce in summer, clams in autumn; upon hearing thunder, they close up. Their gestation of pearls is like pregnancy, hence called "Pearl Womb" (Zhu Tai), corresponding to the waxing and waning of the moon. As stated in *Huainanzi*: At the Winter Solstice, elk antlers shed; when the moon wanes, snails and clams close; clams are also known as Shen. Mozi said: The Spirit Gui of Zhou came from Shangshi; the Bright Moon Pearl of Chu was born from clams and Shen. From this, we see: Is the worthiness or unworthiness of a scholar determined by lineage? Generally, things transform not necessarily through their own kind. For instance, Ostrea (Mu Li) and clams lack distinct male/female yin/yang sexes, requiring the qi of sparrows or pigeons for transformation; thus, old clams can generate pearls due to being purely Yin. The *I Ching* states: Li trigram represents clams and snails. Snails have sharp shapes, clams have flattened shapes, both are externally hard and internally soft, and their nature tends to adhere. Xunzi said: Birds lack stomachs and lungs; clams and shells lack internal organs; leeches are born in the air; silkworms develop without stomachs. Lu Tian said: Dragon pearls are in the chin, snake pearls in the mouth, fish pearls in the eyes, shark pearls in the skin, turtle pearls in the feet, clam pearls in the abdomen. *Baopuzi* states: True pearls over one cun in diameter, when ingested, grant longevity; soaked in whey/curd juice, they become eternally solid; combined with Pumice (Fu Shi), Honeycomb (Feng Chao), and Snake Yellow (She Huang), they can be elongated by three to four chi, made into pills and swallowed.

In the cauldron, stabilize the materials in four directions, then place the pearl on top. Next, cover it with four liang each of Duye (Ulmus Root Bark), Wuhua Pi (Five-flower Bark), and Wufang Cao (Five-direction Grass). Boil continuously using fermented grain water for three days and nights. Take out, wash thoroughly with Licorice Decoction, pound finely in a stone mortar, sieve again, and grind twenty thousand times. Li Shizhen said: One method is to soak in human milk for three days, boil, then pound and grind as above; another method is to store it in a silk bag, place it inside tofu, and boil for the time it takes to burn one incense stick, claiming it does not damage the pearl. Avoid using pearls that have served as jewelry or those exposed to corpse qi.

[Name Explanation] It is said: "Zhen" (True) implies immortality connecting to Heaven; "Zhu" (Pearl) contains the element Wood (One) in the center, symbolizing the embryo sac, named after its generative efficacy and action. Thus, during the full moon of Mid-Autumn, sea clams consume the lunar light to conceive pearls. Generally, every month has a full moon, but only Mid-Autumn governs the pivot of the four directional energies, situated at the center of late autumn, bridging the breathing phases of the two quarters, refining and storing the essence of Metal and Water. Consuming the light and becoming soft and beautiful within, this is filling Li (Fire) with Kan (Water), i.e., the Divine Elixir and Golden Fluid. Therefore, the divine chamber roots the physical body,