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Li Shi (Calcite), detailed under the entry for Wen Ju Chang Shi (Stationery Long Stone).

Tie Luo (Iron Scale), *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: Tie Luo is produced in Muyang Pingze and Yin City, or Xicheng. For various irons not specifying their production provinces, they should be considered the same as these places. Currently, Tie Luo is found wherever there are smelting furnaces in Jiangnan and Western Shu. Tie Luo refers to the fine iron scale flakes beaten off onto an anvil when blacksmiths heat iron until red-hot and boiling; it is commonly called "Iron Flower" (Tie Hua). The primary refined iron, with ore impurities removed, used for casting vessels, is called Sheng Tie (Pig Iron). Iron that has been repeatedly smelted and hammered, suitable for making tools, is Shu Tie (Wrought Iron), also known as Rou Tie (Soft Iron). A mixture of Sheng Tie and Rou Tie used to make sword and knife blades is Gang Tie (Steel). The dust-like, purple, light, and porous substance flying out of the forge, used for polishing copper vessels, is Tie Jing (Iron Essence). The fine powder ground by needle makers is called Zhen Sha (Needle Sand). Various irons soaked in water in a vessel for a long time, developing green rust foam that can dye cloth black, are Tie Jiang (Iron Lye). Iron pieces placed in vinegar lees for a long time, forming a surface layer that is scraped off, are Tie Hua Fen (Iron Flower Powder). Substances calcined by fire are Tie Fen (Iron Powder). There are specific methods for making Tie Hua Fen, but due to length, they are not recorded here. None of the various irons are directly used in pills or powders; only decoctions are used. Tie Hua Fen is ground extremely fine and mixed with other medicines. Additionally, horse bits, hammer weights, wheel hubs, pestles, saws, etc., are heated red-hot and quenched in wine for use. Water from grinding knife and axe edges is used medicinally; although folk usage, it is effective, so it is recorded.

Sheng Tie (Pig Iron), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Gang Tie (Steel), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Tie Jing (Iron Essence), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Tie Jiang (Iron Lye), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Tie Luo (Iron Scale), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Tie Fen (Iron Powder), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Tie Hua Fen (Iron Flower Powder), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Cheng Chui (Hammer Weight), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Ma Xian (Horse Bit), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Che Xia (Wheel Hub), detailed under the entry for Tie (Iron).

Yan Yan (Salt), old texts do not specify production provinces. Tao Hongjing says: There are Donghai Salt, Beihai Salt, and Hedong Salt Pool Salt; Liang and Yi provinces have salt wells; Jiao and Guang provinces have Nanhai Salt; Xiqiang has Mountain Salt; Hu regions have Wood Salt. Colors and types differ, with Hedong Salt being superior. Hedong Salt refers to the finest salt produced in the two pools of Jiezhou and Anyi. There is also Mo Yan (Powder Salt) from the two supervision offices in Bingzhou, made by scraping alkaline soil and refining; its quality is not very good. This alkaline soil is likely the Lu Jian (Alkaline Salt) mentioned in the lower grade, produced in the Hedong Salt Pool. The lower grade also includes Da Yan (Large Salt), produced in Handan and the pool marshes of Hedong. Su Gong says: Da Yan is the Yin Yan (Stamped Salt) of Hedong, commonly eaten by people; it is coarser than Mo Yan, resembling current Jie Yan (Jiezhou Salt). People in Jiezhou take salt by plowing fields beside the pool, irrigating them with pool water. When strong south winds blow, salt crystals form overnight covering the ridges, locally called "Planting Salt." Donghai, Beihai, and Nanhai salts are produced today in Cang, Mi, Chu, Xiu, Wen, Tai, Ming, Quan, Fu, Guang, Qiong, and Hua prefectures by official boiling of seawater for public consumption; they are also called Ze Yan (Marsh Salt), which is the Hai Yan (Sea Salt) referred to in medical formulas. The utensils for boiling salt were called Lao Pen (Solid Basin) in the Han dynasty; now they are sometimes made of cast iron or woven bamboo, coated with shell ash on all sides, one zhang wide and one chi deep, with a flat bottom, placed behind the stove, called Yan Pan (Salt Pan). This corresponds to what *Nanyue Zhi* describes as weaving reeds into a cauldron shape mixed with oyster shells. Then, pits are dug by the sea, lined with bamboo and wood, covered with rushes and thatch, and piled with sand on top. During tidal surges, brine washes into the pit. After the water recedes, torches are used to observe; the brine vapor extinguishes the flame. Seawater brine is then poured into the pan and boiled, completing in moments. Guan Zhong said: Qi had salt from Quzhan; cutting reed fuel to boil seawater and accumulate it, production started in October and reached thirty thousand units by January. Reed fuel refers to burning reeds. Salt wells in Liang and Yi refer to those in Guizhou and various western Sichuan commanderies, where brine is drawn and boiled like seawater, merely for local consumption. Xiqiang Mountain Salt and Hu Wood Salt refer to Guangming Yan (Bright Salt) mentioned in the next entry, produced in Yanzhou. The lower grade includes Rong Yan (Rong Salt), produced at Huyan Mountain, Xiqiang Beidi, and the southeast corner of Fu Lu City in Jiuquan. Beihai Qing Yan (Blue/Green Salt) and Nanhai Chi Yan (Red Salt) are examples. However, Qiang and Hu salts have many varieties. Tao's annotation adds: There are nine types of salt among the barbarians: Bai Yan (White Salt) and Shi Yan (Edible Salt) are common. Hei Yan (Black Salt), Rou Yan (Soft Salt), Chi Yan (Red Salt), Bo Yan (Mottled Salt), Chou Yan (Stinking Salt), Ma Chi Yan (Horse-tooth Salt), etc., cannot be fully identified by modern people. Medical practitioners often use Qing Yan (Green/Blue Salt) for treating eye diseases and tonifying prescriptions, suspecting this is Rong Yan. *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: Beihai Qing Yan, Nanhai Chi Yan. Current Qing Yan from Xiqiang forms square blocks, bright and translucent with blue-black color, most unique. That from Northern Hu forms large blocks, not bright, porous like honeycombs, lighter in color than Western salt, called Yan Zhen (Salt Pillow) by locals, inferior for medicinal use. Northern Hu has another salt, flaky like broken white stone, also called Qing Yan, sealed in boxes and given as gifts with Yan Zhen; its color type is unknown. Additionally, Jiezhou produces a kind of Shi Yan (Stone Salt) growing in mountain rocks, formed naturally without boiling, very bright and translucent, highly valued by locals as Guangming Yan. It is not used in medical formulas, so distinctions are incomplete. Tong, Tai, and Haizhou also have households scraping alkaline soil to boil salt for tax, similar to Bingzhou Mo Yan, supplied to the Jianghu region, abundant and tastier than Bingzhou Mo Yan. Binzhou has households boiling grass-earth salt, coarse and black, unfit for medicine, only fit for feeding horses. The lower entry for Lv Yan (Green Salt) states: Made from Guangming Yan, Nao Sha (Ammonium Chloride), and Chi Tong Xie (Red Copper Scrap) fermented into blocks, green in color; authentic ones come from stones in waters of Yanqi Kingdom, resembling Bian Qing (Flat Azurite) and Kong Qing (Hollow Azurite); currently unrecognized and unused in medicine. Liu Zongyuan of Tang compiled a formula for Salty Soup to treat Cholera after three deaths: In the 10th year of Yuanhe, October, suffering from Gan Huoluan (Dry Cholera), unable to vomit or purge, sweating cold sweat about three dou, breath ceased. Fang Wei from Henan transmitted this soup; upon ingestion, vomiting occurred, and breath resumed. Method: One large spoonful of salt, fried yellow, mixed with one sheng of urine from a young boy, taken warm; vomiting/purging ensues shortly, leading to recovery. Liu Yuxi's *Chuanxin Fang* records Cui Zhongcheng's Formula for Smelted Salt Black Pills: One sheng of salt, pounded to powder, packed tightly in a rough porcelain bottle, sealed with mud. Initially heated by fire, gradually adding charcoal fire, ensuring the bottle does not break. When thoroughly red-hot and salt melts like liquid, remove from fire. Upon cooling, the salt solidifies; break the bottle to retrieve it. One sheng of Dou Chi (Fermented Soybeans), fried scorched; one da liang of Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), fried熟 with bran; two da liang of Ba Dou (Croton Seed), removing heart and membrane, fried in paper until oil emerges. Must achieve proper raw/cooked balance; too cooked reduces efficacy, too raw harms the body. Each of the four ingredients is pounded into a mature powder, mixed with measured honey into pills the size of wu zi (wheat seeds). Take three pills each time, administered at dawn. For epidemic qi diseases, taken with Dou Chi juice or tea is acceptable. Drink more tea afterwards to promote drug action. For heart pain, taken with wine, stops immediately. For bloody dysentery, taken with water, initially turns to watery dysentery, then stops. For Gui Na (Ghost Malaria), taken with tea. For Gu Re (Bone Heat), taken with White Honey Soup. Avoid cold Jiang Shui (Cold Fermented Rice Water). If compounding takes long, slightly enlarge the pills. Do not be surprised if vomiting/dysentery occurs after taking medicine. Fast for two days after one day of medication. If vomiting/dysentery is excessive, decoct Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) juice to stop it. Taking medicine at dawn, if no vomiting/dysentery occurs by Xiao Shi (Small Meal Time), or if encountering poisoning, administer one or two more pills. This medicine is best compounded in winter, especially the twelfth lunar month. Store in porcelain containers, sealed with wax paper to prevent leakage. Cui Neng from Qinghe said: One dose can save a hundred people. For epidemics, if urgent need arises and other medicines are unavailable, or during travel/village stays without access to drugs, one Dao Gui (a small measure) of this drug equals several liang of Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) and Po Xiao (Mirabilite). Tested and effective. Suitable for circulation among commoners and envoys. Not for children or women, as it may cause disturbance. Tang medical formulas also include a Medicinal Salt method from Zhang Wenzhong, widely practiced by Tang officials.