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Fan Zhi Qu (Fan Zhi Divine Leaven) and Baijiu Yao Qu (White Wine Medicinal Leaven) Appendix

Originating from Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, the best quality is produced by Kaiyuan Temple. This leaven is made by fermenting a hundred herbs, hence also known as Baicao Qu (Hundred Herb Leaven). The authentic product is blackish-green in color, forms solid blocks when boiled, does not disintegrate, and emits a clear, fragrant aroma. Those with a pale yellow color are called Gong Qu (Tribute Leaven). Its medicinal power is mild and peaceful, less potent than that of the dark green-black variety; this leaven becomes more effective with age. *Yao Xing Kao* (Compendium of Drug Properties) records: Quanzhou Shen Qu (Divine Leaven) has a slightly bitter, fragrant, and sweet taste. It can search out wind and release the exterior, regulate the stomach and promote phlegm resolution, stop cough, malaria, dysentery, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can stabilize warm epidemics and mountain miasma, disperse rashes and eliminate macules, treat cold-induced headache, food stagnation, and mental restlessness. Decoct with ginger and take warm, 2-3 qian per dose. Legend has it that its formulation is kept secret, named after Fan Zhi, formed into neat blocks, effective in use, and pleasing to give to distant friends. Cai Shi Yao Tie (Cai Family Medicine Post) records: Treats dizziness and fever caused by wind-cold, summerheat-dampness; sweating immediately cures. It can resolve accumulation, open the chest and regulate the diaphragm, harmonize the stomach and strengthen the spleen, and adjust the unstable qi of the four seasons. It also stops diarrhea and reduces swelling, and treats symptoms such as loss of appetite. It can further stop cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, cough, red-and-white dysentery, and all conditions related to infant hunger or overeating. If traveling abroad and failing to adapt to local water and soil, or suffering from abdominal pain due to miasma, it yields miraculous results.

Fan Zhi Zhai and Cai Xiede, residing at the front of the East Pagoda on West Street in Quanzhou Prefecture City, have long produced Baicao Shen Qu (Hundred Herb Divine Leaven), which is now known as Jian Qu (Jian Leaven). Each piece weighs half a jin or four liang. In May of the Xinmao year of Qianlong's reign, while Cai was producing leaven, a guest suddenly arrived, looked at the herbs, and sighed: "People of all ages today have weak constitution; hundred herbs may damage the primordial qi. I have an extraordinary prescription: ninety-six herbs combined according to sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier principles, plus twelve fresh green herbs such as Perilla Leaf (Zisu Ye) and Mint (Bohe), pounded and decocted, totaling one hundred and eight ingredients. Formed into small cubes, each weighing one liang. Manufactured according to law during the Dragon Boat Festival and the gathering of deities on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month. The drug properties are mild and peaceful, with a sweet and fragrant aroma, suitable for travelers. It can be taken daily instead of tea. Adults take 3 qian, decocted in one bowl of water until reduced to seven-tenths. Children take 1.5 qian, decocted in one teacup of water until reduced to six-tenths. Take when hungry or full, avoid raw vegetables. Pregnant women must not take it. When sliced and decocted, the dregs do not scatter; identify the authentic product by its pale yellow color."

Within Quanzhou Prefecture City, Wu Yifei of Fan Zhi produces the famous Wan Ying Shen Qu (Ten Thousand Responses Divine Leaven). Its aroma is neutral and harmonious, clear, fragrant, sweet, and bland. It searches out wind and releases the exterior, opens the chest and relieves diaphragmatic oppression, regulates the stomach and strengthens the spleen, resolves accumulation and promotes digestion, harmonizes the middle and resolves alcohol toxicity, stops diarrhea and promotes urination, treats irregular qi of the four seasons, cold-induced fever, dizziness, cough, food-stagnation abdominal pain, distension and Qi pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, and loss of appetite. For early-stage smallpox/rash, it is used to push out pathogenic toxins.

It also treats failure to adapt to local water and soil, miasma-induced malaria and dysentery, and is especially suitable for regular consumption when traveling far. Adults take 3 qian, decocted in one soup bowl of water until reduced to seven-tenths. Children take 1.5 qian or 1 qian, decocted in one large teacup of water until reduced to seven-tenths. Divide each qian into five or six pieces. For external contraction with fever, dizziness, cough, malaria, and vomiting, add fresh Ginger Root (Sheng Jiang) and decoct together. For diarrhea, add Mume Fruit (Wumei) and decoct together. Only for dysentery should the dosage be doubled. Adults use 5 qian, children 2-3 qian, decocted with good Bocha heart (tea center). Price is 1.6 taels of silver per jin. If packed in boxes, 5 wen per piece. The shop is located in Guitan Alley beside the Academy Examination Hall, third room south of the top of Guanyin Pavilion, marked by the Fan Zhi Wu family plaque.

Baijiu Yao Qu (White Wine Medicinal Leaven): *Yao Xing Kao* states: Baijiu Yao Qu originated in Songjiang. Galangal Root (Liangjiang) 4 liang, Aconite Root (Caowu) 0.5 jin. Evodia Fruit (Wuyu), Angelica Dahurica Root (Baizhi), Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai), Cinnamon Twig Heart (Guixin), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang), Cyperus Rhizome (Xiangfu), Smartweed Herb (Laliao), Sophora Root (Kushen), Sichuan Pepper (Qinjiao) - these nine herbs, each 1 liang in equal parts. Chrysanthemum Flower (Juhua) and Mint (Bohe) 2 liang each. Clove Bud Skin (Dingpi) and Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit (Yizhi) 5 qian each. Apricot Seed (Xingren). All ground into fine powder. Talcum Powder (Huashi) 5 jin, Rice Flour (Mifen) 8 dou, mixed evenly with river sand. Form into pills and dry for use. Makes wine fragrant; stir-fried until charred and mixed with food, effectively resolving stagnation and accumulation.