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[Recorded in the Middle Grade of the Bie Lu]
[Taste and Nature] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats evil qi in the five zang organs, calms the mind (Shen), and suppresses appetite. Eliminates gu poison and expels three types of intestinal parasites. Long-term consumption strengthens the Hun (Ethereal Soul), enhances hearing and vision, lightens the body, prevents aging, and facilitates communication with spiritual intelligence.
[Nucleus/Commentary] It is said: Longan is also known as Yizhi (Benefiting Will). Other names include Longmu (Dragon Eye), Bibai (Side-by-side Eyes), Lizhu (Black Pearl), Yanyuan (Swallow Egg), Jiaolei (Shark Tears), Mipi (Honey Spleen), Chuandanzi (Sichuan Bullet), Yalizhi (Sub-Litchi), Lizhinu (Litchi Slave), and colloquially Yuanyan (Round Eye); all these names are derived from its similar shape. It grows in the valleys of Hainan. Currently, it is found in Fujian, Guangdong, and along the Sichuan routes, wherever litchis grow. It fears cold, thus growing in warm areas alongside litchis.
The *Shu Du Fu* states: "Longan trees stand tall on the sides, while litchi trees grow laterally." Su Song says: "When the litchi season passes, the longan ripens." The tree is one to two zhang high, resembling the litchi but with smaller leaves and branches, remaining evergreen through winter. In late spring and early summer, it blooms with small, white flowers, resembling the fruit of Malus asiatica (Linlin), clustered like grapes. The shell is yellowish-green with scales-like patterns, shaped like congealed honey. Harvested at White Dew, dried by sun and baking, then mixed with yellow earth, it appears bright yellow and visually appealing.
[Analysis] It is said: Scale-dwelling creatures and woody plants belong to the Dragon category; the root orifice of Liver Wood is the Eye. Long-term consumption strengthens the Hun. The Hun is the spiritual consciousness of the Liver. When the Hun is strong, the physical form of Liver Wood is established; when the form is established, the function of Liver Wood operates; when the function operates, the five Qi (ascending out, descending in) circulate; with proper order, the Five Wills are calm, the Five Evils are cured, the Three Parasites are removed, and Gu Poison is eliminated, resulting in a light body and pure root, fulfilling all desires.
(The Heart stores Shen, and the Spleen stores Yi and Zhi. Zhi is the specific storage of Earth of the Spleen. *Si Qi Tiao Shen Lun*: In the three months of Spring, let the will be generated; in the three months of Summer, do not anger the will; in the three months of Autumn, do not let the will escape outward; in the three months of Winter, let the will lie hidden, as if having private intentions, as if already possessing something, so that each Zang has its stored will, and Shen does not focus exclusively on what is stored in one Zang.)

[Recorded in the Middle Grade of the Bie Lu]
[Taste and Nature] Sweet, astringent, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily nourishes and calms the five Zang organs. Unblocks the Qi of the ears and nose, treats deficiency of the stomach and intestines, resolves alcohol toxicity, suppresses epigastric fullness/stagnation, and stops dry mouth. Dried persimmon is particularly effective. The pedicle (calyx) treats hiccups and chronic cough.
[Nucleus/Commentary] It is said: Persimmons grow in both North and South. The trees are tall and robust, though some are small shrubs. Grafted trees thrive easily; naturally grown trees yield fewer fruits with astringent taste, suitable only for making lacquer. Leaves are round and glossy; flowers are small, yellowish-white. Fruits set in May and ripen in August, turning from green to red like cinnabar when ripe. There are many varieties; Red Persimmons are ubiquitous; Yellow Persimmons come from Bian and Luo; Vermilion Persimmons from Huashan; Zhen Persimmons are green and edible raw; Zhagai Persimmons have an extra layer under the stem like an inverted bottle lid; there are also Deer Heart, Milk Cow, Chicken Egg, Monkey Date, Steamed Cake, Mirror Surface, Clove, Fusun, Duobao, Tuanhua, as well as White, Black, [Unclear], Zhuang, Green, Fire, and Water Persimmons. The stems vary in square, round, thin, thick, covering, or upward orientation. The pits vary in position (center/side), shape (round/oblique), length (long/short), texture (soft/hard), tip (root sharp/tip sharp), presence of ridges, and presence of seeds. Pits with fewer seeds are better; seedless ones are delicious and beneficial. Freshly picked persimmons are very astringent; soaking in ash, rice water, or warm water for ten days removes astringency, making them sweet and smooth. Placing papaya, su pear, or orange leaves inside accelerates ripening and fragrance. Soaking in water allows long-term storage, called "Water Persimmon." Peeling semi-ripe persimmons, smoking then drying, or hanging in windy places until dry and covered in frost yields "Persimmon Cake" (Shibing). There are also imitations named after cuts, cores, birds, fish, and beasts, mimicking shapes. *Shi Lei He Bi* states: Persimmon is a red fruit, large ones like [Unclear character], slightly flattened with eight ridges; medium ones like fists, eggs, or hearts. A small variety like a folded two-cash coin is called Monkey Date. Its roots are solid, called Persimmon Plate. Tradition holds seven excellences of persimmon: longevity, shade, no bird nests, no insect damage, frosty leaves for viewing, fine fruit, and fallen leaves smooth enough for calligraphy practice. Eating persimmon with crab causes abdominal pain; eating persimmon while drinking alcohol induces intoxication easily.
My ancestor said: The flesh and veins resemble meridians; sweet taste and slippery nature benefit orifices. Ripening late, it embodies Autumn Metal transformation; falling leaves receive the warmth of fertile Fire. Furthermore, the pedicle implies governance, absorption, descent, transport, and smooth flow, thus counteracting rebellious Qi that cannot be exhaled voluntarily. It is not solely about descending, but specifically preventing rebellion.
[Analysis] It is said: Persimmon is a red fruit. Those that are blackish-green are [Unclear], such as the Lianghou Wu [Unclear] persimmon. *Er Ya Yi* notes: Persimmon is rare in classics, appearing only in the thirty-one miscellaneous delicacies added in *Nei Ze*. Its utility lies in lacquer production; crab transforms into water. Crab excels in fat/grease, lacquer in resin/oil; grease releases, oil coagulates, which is evident. Persimmon is originally astringent but becomes sweet when ripe. The pedicle retains its inherent astringency without change. Astringency is extreme sour contraction. It enters the Taiyin Lung Meridian, serving as a substance-based medicine for the Lung. Diseases of the Lung include rebellious Qi, cough, chest fullness. Deficiency leads to hiccups and Qi disorders due to loss of the Lung's rigid nature (Metal) and adaptive function. Astringency relates to substance, slipperiness to function; persimmon possesses both.
(Persimmon flesh is sweet, pedicle astringent; like melon flesh sweet but pedicle bitter. Sucking fluid concentrates at the pedicle, showing the central pivot's distinction between opening and closing. Bitterness surges and drains awaiting astringency, moving up then down to follow opening; astringency descends and肃ifies awaiting release, moving down then up to follow closing. Understanding astringency, opening, release, and closing applies not only to the dual indications of the pedicle but also to the actions of formulas.)