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[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
Rare and extraordinary varieties; consumption leads to immortality. It belongs to the upper class of the upper grade, capable of harmonizing with the Heavenly Dao.

【Flavor and Nature】Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats deafness, unblocks joints, calms the spirit, benefits essence and qi, strengthens bones and sinews, and improves complexion. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
【Flavor and Nature】Sour, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily brightens the eyes, tonifies Liver Qi (Liver Qi), stabilizes essence and soul, and fosters benevolence and forbearance. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to attain immortality.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
【Flavor and Nature】Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats chest constriction, tonifies Heart Qi (Heart Qi), supplements the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), enhances wisdom, and prevents forgetfulness. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to attain immortality.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
【Flavor and Nature】Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats various pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, tonifies Spleen Qi (Spleen Qi), calms the spirit, and fosters loyalty, trustworthiness, harmony, and joy. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to attain immortality.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
【Flavor and Nature】Pungent, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats cough and rebellious Qi (Rebellious Qi), tonifies Lung Qi (Lung Qi), unblocks the mouth and nose, strengthens willpower, fosters courage and bravery, and stabilizes the魄 (Po). Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to attain immortality.

[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Class]
Those that coil around layered terraces and parasitize on soil belong to Grass Lingzhi (Grass Mushroom); ordinary mushrooms are not worth mentioning.
【Flavor and Nature】Salty, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats strangury (difficulty in urination), promotes water passages, tonifies Kidney Qi (Kidney Qi), opens the nine orifices, and enhances hearing, vision, and acuity. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life to attain immortality.
【Commentary】It is said: Lingzhi produced from the Five Great Mountains is precious. It typically grows in the sixth month, corresponding to the hexagram of the sixth month to manifest its virtue. The Shennong Classic states: Mountain rivers, clouds, and rain are the essence of the four seasons, five phases, yin, and yang, which generate the five-colored divine Lingzhi, serving as an auspicious omen for sage kings. The Ruling Life Rites state: When a ruler is benevolent, Lingzhi grass grows. Lunheng states: Lingzhi grows in the earth; when the earth qi is harmonious, Lingzhi grows without need for planting or identification, parasitizing wherever it may, manifesting forms according to conditions. Ancestors stated: Spiritual entities have no fixed roots, appearing briefly like the Udumbara flower. Those that coil around terraces and parasitize on soil represent their common form. The Bencao Jing only lists six types of Lingzhi, but their colors and forms are extraordinary and must be recognized. They are recorded here to broaden knowledge. Jun Lingzhi (Mushroom Lingzhi) grows on deep mountains and large trees, near abyssal springs, with variable colors, sometimes resembling palaces, dragons, tigers, chariots, horses, flying birds, etc. Muweixi Lingzhi (Wood Weixi Mushroom) grows on thousand-year-old Poria cocos (Fu Ling), sprouting small wood above, resembling a lotus flower, glowing at night, slippery to hold, and does not burn when ignited. Feijie Lingzhi (Flying Joint Mushroom) grows on thousand-year-old pine trees, with resin in the bark, shaped like flying creatures. Muqu Lingzhi (Wood Canal Mushroom) parasitizes on large trees, resembling a lotus, with nine stems in one cluster, sweet and pungent in taste. Huangbai Lingzhi (Phellodendron Mushroom) grows under the roots of thousand-year-old Phellodendron amurense (Huang Bai), with fine thread-like roots below. Jianmu Lingzhi (Jian Wood Mushroom) has bark like tassels and fruits resembling Luan birds. Cheng Lingzhi is red and luminous; striking its branches and leaves produces sounds like metal and stone. Fantao Lingzhi has a trunk like a cage, flowers like cinnabar, and fruits like kingfishers. Qiansui Lingzhi (Thousand-Year Mushroom) grows under dead wood, with roots resembling a person sitting in meditation; cutting it reveals blood, which, if applied to the soles of feet, enables walking on water and invisibility. All the above are Wood Lingzhi. Duyao Lingzhi (Solo-Shaking Mushroom) does not move in wind but shakes spontaneously without wind; it has a single straight stem, hollow inside and red outside; half-way up the stem tip, it bears small sharp leaves, forming spikes at the tips, blooming gray-white flowers, bearing twelve seeds that do not fall in autumn, instead penetrating back into the hollow stem and exiting from the bottom; the root is as large as a bushel, accompanied by twelve "wanderers" surrounding it. Niujiao Lingzhi (Ox Horn Mushroom) grows on Hushou Mountain and Wuling, resembling scallions, protruding uniquely like horns, green and emerald, three to four chi long. Longxian Lingzhi (Dragon Immortal Mushroom) resembles ascending dragons carrying each other. Zizhu Lingzhi (Purple Pearl Mushroom) has yellow leaves and red fruits, resembling purple plums in color. Baifu Lingzhi (White Talisman Mushroom) blooms during heavy snow and fruits in late winter. Zhucuo Lingzhi (Cinnabar Grass Mushroom) has stems like needles, nine curves, three leaves, with fruits on the leaves. Wude Lingzhi (Five Virtues Mushroom) resembles pavilions, possessing all five colors, with square purple stems. All the above are Grass Lingzhi. Yu'an Lingzhi (Jade Dark Mushroom) grows in jade-producing mountains, resembling birds and beasts, lacking constant color, mostly resembling mountain landscape nephrite, or clear crystal. Qikong Jiuguang Lingzhi (Seven-Holed Nine-Light Mushroom) grows on cliff sides near water, resembling plates or basins, with stems and leaves; leaves have seven holes, glow at night, and eating them makes the seven holes transparent. Shimii Lingzhi (Stone Honey Mushroom) grows in the stone caves of Mount Shaoshi. Guizhi (Cinnamon Mushroom) grows in stone crevices, resembling cinnamon, but is actually stone, luminous in color. Shinao Lingzhi (Stone Brain Mushroom) is yellow within stones, also a type of Stone Lingzhi. Shizhi (Stone Mushroom) appears as stone elephants, growing at sea edges and on stone mountain islands. Rouzhi (Meat Mushroom) resembles meat, attached to large stones, with heads and tails, being living organisms; red like coral, white like cut fat, yellow like purple gold, black like heavy lacquer, green like kingfisher feathers, luminous and transparent, firm as ice; large ones weigh over ten jin. Qiansui Yan (Thousand-Year Swallow), Qiansui Bianfu (Thousand-Year Bat), Qiansui Gui (Thousand-Year Turtle), Wansui Chan Chu (Ten-Thousand-Year Toad), and Shan Zhong Xiaoren (Little People in Mountains) all belong to the Meat Lingzhi category. Fenghuang Lingzhi (Phoenix Mushroom) grows between gold and jade in famous mountains. Yantai Lingzhi (Swallow Egg Mushroom) resembles Zi Kui, purple in color like swallows. Heiyun Lingzhi (Black Cloud Mushroom) grows in shady valleys, with black caps and red veins, black stems, and salty taste. There are also Wu Se Longzhi (Five-Color Dragon Mushroom), Wu Fang Shenzi (Five-Direction Divine Mushroom), Ganlu Zhi (Sweet Dew Mushroom), Qingyun Zhi (Blue Cloud Mushroom), Yunqi Zhi (Cloud Qi Mushroom), Baihu Zhi (White Tiger Mushroom), Chema Zhi (Chariot Horse Mushroom), Taiyi Zhi (Great One Mushroom), with varied names and shapes, all consumed to achieve immortality. Bao Pu Zi stated: To seek Lingzhi, one must enter famous mountains, specifically in the third and ninth months, when the mountain opens to reveal divine medicines. Avoid days of the mountain, use Tian Fu hours, exit through the Three Wonders Auspicious Doors. Upon arrival, it must be a Six Yin day, during the Ming Tang time. Carry the Lingbao talisman, lead a white dog, hold a white chicken, wrap one dou of white salt, along with mountain-opening edicts, placing them on large stones. Enter the mountain holding a handful of Wutang grass; the mountain god will be pleased, and the Lingzhi will become visible. Use Yu Bu (Yu's Steps) to approach and harvest, selecting days of Wang Xiang Zhuan He where heavenly stems and earthly branches generate each other upwards and downwards. Carve with bone knives, dry in shade, grind into powder, and consume for miraculous effects. If one does not maintain pure fasting for a long time, possesses impure conduct and thin virtue, and does not understand the method of entering the mountain, even with diagrams, spirits and gods will not grant access, and it cannot be obtained. Guo Pu stated: Sanhua (Three Flowers) per year is a auspicious grass. In ancient times, the Four White Hermits gathered Lingzhi, which was consumed by group immortals. Master Zhizhe stated: Consuming mineral drugs can only calm diseases; consuming Lingzhi grass can lead to immortality. Tao Hongjing stated: Whenever Lingzhi grass is obtained, it can be eaten directly without further restrictions, hence no specific dosage methods are recorded.
(The Heaven has five Qi, governing the Five Directions, generating the Five Great Mountains; this refers to the causes for the generation of Divine Lingzhi. Mountain rivers, clouds, and rain are the essence of the four seasons, five phases, yin, and yang; this refers to the reasons why Divine Lingzhi can be generated. Thus, Divine Lingzhi is not only the head of the five Lingzhi but also the master of the Five Great Mountains alone. Therefore, to fully comprehend the rare merits of Divine Lingzhi, one must view it broadly and perfectly within the framework of generation, ability, and object.)
Ancestors stated: Lingzhi is consumed by immortals, belonging to the upper class of the upper grade of medicines. It is condensed from the spiritual energy of mountains, rocks, water, and wood, steaming and accumulating. It is both grass and wood, both stone and earth, yet neither grass nor wood, neither stone nor earth, distinct from fungi and ferns. It is crucial to obtain it from famous mountains, great rivers, ancient woods, and fairy realms; consuming it naturally yields spiritual efficacy. Li Binhu considered it edible and mixed it into the vegetable section, which is akin to treating a high hermit as a garden laborer. I obtained a small yellow Lingzhi from Guling Mountain; chewing it slowly and swallowing, soon my throat felt cool and moist like clouds, coiling around the five zang organs. Indeed, it is where Qi gathers; it is not comparable to irrigation and growth. Spiritual and rootless, appearing briefly like the Udumbara flower, it deserves special reverence as the foremost.
Furthermore, it is said: Shennong tasted herbs and plants extensively to alleviate people's illnesses and prevent premature death. Lingzhi, however, can nourish nature and transform emotions, advancing towards virtue, such as benevolence, loyalty, trustworthiness, harmony, joy, courage, and bravery, which ordinary plants cannot provide. It resonates with the harmonious Qi of Heaven and Earth, belonging to the spirit rather than physical substance, hence its indications are as such.
【Commentary】It is said: When Yin and Yang combine, Earth Qi rises to become clouds, and Heaven Qi descends to become rain. When rain stops and clouds clear, Lingzhi grows. Its flavor is cool and moist, its form coils and winds, requiring no planting or identification, emerging from nothingness into somethingness, thus benefiting the five zang organs. The "nothingness within existence" hides form to become existence, and hides spirit to become nothingness. If Divine Lingzhi possesses five colors and five flavors, all five zang organs receive it. Purple Lingzhi, intermingled red and black, facilitates communication between Heart and Kidney; obtaining a single color and flavor means each follows its own kind. This differs from nourishing and cultivating physical forms. It clarifies and purifies the spiritual nature; long-term consumption leads to immortality. Unless one is a recluse of mist and clouds, extinguishing external connections and maintaining inner stillness, they are unfit to presumptuously consume it.
(When rain stops and clouds clear, Yin and Yang must be pure and clean. Not combining with Yin-Yang steaming and郁 accumulation, but transforming into fungi and ferns, is contrary [to the natural order].)