Library

[Duancuowu]
*Yuezhi* records: Duancuowu is produced in Guangdong. It is a snake, only as thick as a finger, about five or six cun long. Its head resembles that of a dragon but is smaller, and its body is entirely black. When it moves, any grass it touches breaks immediately; people can trace it by following the broken grass. Therefore, this snake usually stays more than one zhang above the ground, moving straight like an arrow into burrows to avoid touching the grass, making it impossible for people to track. This is also a type of Wushe (Black Snake). *Bencao Gangmu* did not record this specific type with a dragon-like head among the Wushaoshe (Zaocys), so it is recorded here to supplement the missing information.
It treats Leprosy (Mafen, leprosyous disease); decocted in wine for oral administration.

[Longxianxiang / Ambergris]
*Tongya* records: There are islands where Longxianxiang (Ambergris) is found, near Huamian Country, standing alone in the South China Sea. Locals say it is collected from trees, possessing the strongest fragrance. It is currently used in the imperial palace for its sweet aroma.
*Macao Jilue* records: Ambergris from Dasia (Arab region) is of the highest quality. That from Xiyang (the West) comes from Buxier Sea. When burned, emerald-green smoke floats in the air, condensing without dispersing. Guests can use scissors to cut strands of the smoke.
*Qiaonan Ji* records: New ambergris is white; over time it turns purple, and eventually black. White ambergris resembles Baiyaojian (a traditional herbal preparation); black is inferior, resembling Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung). Its odor is close to muskiness. When burned with incense, emerald-green smoke floats and does not disperse.
Test for authenticity: Throw a clump forcefully into water; it will float on the surface after a moment. Or, place one qian in the mouth; it has a slight fishy smell. After overnight, the fine foam is swallowed, leaving glue adhering to the tongue. Weigh it when wet; it should still be one qian. Dry it again; the weight remains unchanged. Even if extremely dry, insert a red-hot silver hairpin into it. Upon pulling it out while warm, the ambergris will stretch into threads continuously. If this occurs, whether brown-white or brown-black, it is genuine.
*Haidong Zhaji* records: Haiwengyu (Sea Lion/Otter?), large ones weigh three or four thousand jin, small ones over one thousand jin. It is also known as Haiqiu (Sea Loach). Its skin has sand-like protrusions, impervious to knives and arrows. Some say this fish sprays saliva from its mouth, often swallowing and regurgitating it. The black or pale yellow substance left on the beach is Longxianxiang (Ambergris). It is said to exist in Danshui, Taiwan. To distinguish real from fake, grind it and stir in water; if it floats like paste, roll it into a pill with saliva, drop it on a table making a sound, and hold it in the mouth overnight without loss, it is genuine. Each liang is worth dozens of taels of gold.
*Guangzhi* records: In Xin'an, there is Longxue Zhou (Dragon Hole Island). During wind and rain, dragons rise, less than a few zhang from the ground, with crimson manes and golden scales, eyes like lightning. The essence lies in the floating foam, spraying like springs and rain. Locals rush to collect it; if delayed, it sinks into the earth, becoming Longxianxiang. Some claim ambergris accumulates on dead wood at sea, resembling bird droppings, with a greenish-black color and fishy-mixed odor. When burned with mixed incense, emerald smoke knots and winds in the air without dispersing, allowing smoke strands to be cut, but most are fake. Imported via foreign ships from Daqin (Rome/Europe) and Persia, genuine ones crackle when burned in rain.
*Kunyu Tuji* records: Ambergris is most abundant in the seas of Black Skin Country and Buxier. Large pieces weighing over a thousand jin look like islands. They are washed ashore by wind and waves, eagerly eaten by insects, birds, and beasts.
Wang Ji's *Bencao* records: Saliva spat out by dragons can be made into incense.
*Xingcha Shenglan* records: Ceylon, Balava, Zhubu, Mugudushu, Lasah, Zuofaer, Hormuz, and Liushan Yang countries all produce Longxianxiang (Ambergris).
*Baishi Huibian* records: White ambergris resembles Baiyaojian with extremely fine texture; black is inferior, resembling Wulingzhi but glossy, with a musky odor, light like Pumex stone, and fragrant. It has no nourishing properties itself but gathers fragrance. When used with true ambergris in incense, emerald smoke floats and condenses without dispersing, allowing guests to cut smoke strands. This is due to the residual energy of mirages. Incense makers in Quanzhou and Guangzhou say ambergris收敛s (consolidates/astringes) the scent of Nao (Borneo Camphor) and She (Musk), preserving it for decades.
*Guangdong Tongzhi* records: Ambergris collected from water is brown-black; from mountains, it is brown-white.
*Dongxiyang Kao* records: A flower resembling Hibiscus falls into the sea. Large fish swallow it. Having eaten ambergris first, the flower enters the stomach. The fish becomes bloated, raises its head to spit foam onto rocks. The dried foam is usable; feces are poor quality. Scattered pieces from sand seepage have weak efficacy.
Fan Xian's *Taiwan Fu Zhi* records: Longxianxiang is rumored to be the semen of loaches, coagulating in water. It stops heart pain and boosts essence and qi. Pale yellow, indigestible pieces are best. Those from Danshui are all pale yellow, none black.
Zhu Guozhen's *Dazheng Ji* records: Ambergris comes from Sumatra. To the west is Longxian Yu (Ambergris Islet) in the middle of Nanwuli Ocean, where dragons play and leave saliva. Locals sail single-log boats shaped like dragons, hiding inside, drifting with tides. Dragons do not eat them. One jin is worth 192 coins of that country, equivalent to 9,000 Chinese copper cash. In the 34th year of Jiajing, the Ministry of Revenue ordered 100 jin of ambergris. It could not be bought in Beijing, so orders were sent to Guangdong. The price was set at 1,200 taels of silver per jin. Only 11 taels were obtained and submitted, but inspection showed inconsistencies. Another order resulted in submission of 1.3 taels from Macau merchant Manabie (black-brown) and 6 taels from Mididu Mountain locals (white-brown). Inquiry revealed black is from water, white from mountains, both genuine. Subsequent submissions totaled 17.25 taels. Inspected in the palace as genuine, allowed for use. Foreign ships subsequently brought it for trade, setting the price at 100 taels per liang. Uses: In incense boxes, it consolidates the clear qi of camphor and musk, preserving scent for decades. Genuine ambergris burned with incense produces non-dispersing emerald smoke. Three grades of saliva: Fan Shui (floating on water), Shen Sha (seeping into sand), Yu Shi (eaten by fish). Only Fan Shui is suitable for incense. Fish-eaten type includes two kinds: flowers falling into sea, eaten by fish that had consumed ambergris, causing bloating and spitting foam onto rocks. Feces are poor.
*Lingnan Za Ji* records: Among all incenses, ambergris is most expensive, market value not less than 100,000 per liang, second tier 50-60,000. From Dasia. Clouds covering mountains indicate sleeping dragons. Locals wait for clouds to dissipate, then collect 5-7 liang or more. Also found in ocean whirlpools, washed ashore by wind.
*Lingwai Za Ji* records: Dragons sleep on stones, saliva floats and hardens. New is white, old purple, very old black. Odor is musky. Texture like Pumex, light, glossy. Burns with emerald smoke. Three grades: Floating, Seeping, Fish-eaten. Fish-eaten smells foul, tribute limited to 4 liang.
Commentary: Colors vary in records (white, purple-black, pale yellow, greenish-black). Authenticity tests differ. Generally, do not judge by color. True ambergris does not dissolve in the mouth, floats in water, and crackles when burned in rain. Li Shizhen (*Gangmu*) omitted therapeutic uses for ambergris, noting it is rarely used in medicine, only in incense. He claimed it preserves camphor/musk scent for decades, originates from Southwest oceans, spring dragon saliva, collected by foreigners, or found in fish bellies. Initial state is gelatinous, yellow-white; dried, yellow-black, like Baiyaojian, glossy like Wulingzhi when old. Fine, light like Pumex, fishy-musky. This description is not rigorously verified. The fish-belly variety is likely Haiqiu semen from Taiwan, inferior to oceanic sources. Dragon Brain and Dragon Fetus are rare/non-existent, while Ambergris is common in Fujian/Guangdong. Why did Li Shizhen record rare items but omit common ones? Erudition is difficult. For medicinal use, decocted over water until gelatinous/sugar-like is best.
Odor: Fishy. Taste: Slightly sour and salty. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
*Xingxing Kao*: Sweet taste, fishy odor, astringent nature.
Zhang Yaoshi says: Sand-contaminated has slight toxicity. Collected by locals from beaches. Must be boiled in Licorice Decoction before use.
*Youyang Zazu*: Does not disperse when exposed to soot. Avoid iron vessels and Gypsum during preparation.
Actions: Invigorates Blood, benefits Essence and Marrow, assists Yang pathways, unblocks and promotes circulation in channels and vessels.
Liao Yongyan's *Yanfang*: Promotes urination, unblocks strangury, dissipates masses, expels spirits/demons, resolves Qi stagnation, drives out labor parasites and corpse-possession diseases.
Chen Liangshi: Saw Japanese in Macau make seed pills using sulfur and other drugs, claiming Han dynasty alchemists used this. Japanese keep the formula secret.
*Zhaji*: From Danshui, stops heart pain, boosts essence and qi.
Zhou Quda: Generates saliva in the mouth. For dry mouth conditions, holding it causes salivation. Slight fishy odor. Japanese mix it into pills to mask odor. One pill lasts decades. If used alone, must be "killed" (processed) with chicken broth to ensure digestion; otherwise, it passes through undigested due to extreme difficulty in breakdown. Books say smoke enters water bowls; my tests failed.
Commentary: Dragon is the Eastern Deity, pure Yang, breathes clouds. Yang is light, so clouds rise. Bones enter Foot-Shaoyin, Foot-Jueyin meridians. Living things follow Yin-Yang balance; solitary Yang cannot generate. Dragon is pure Yang, but bones are Yin. Medicinally, it collects Yin within Yang, treating Heart-Kidney disorders, embodying the Dao of Yin-Yang. Spirituality: Teeth treat restless soul, calm fright/epilepsy. Liver diseases: Dragon governs Wood, treatment is miraculous. Saliva is Yang within Yang, hence extremely fragrant. Dragon belongs to Wood; Wood with sufficient Solar Qi is fragrant. Thus, Dragon is the supreme incense. Water interaction: Drops into water without scattering; Dragon uses water, essence enters upon seeing water. Medicinally, it benefits water passages, separates Yin/Yang, expels spirits because it is a Yin substance resolving upon encountering True Yang.