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Mao Kunlai stated: The rooster is a manifestation of accumulated Yang Qi in the South, corresponding to the Xun (Wind) trigram in the Eight Trigrams. At dawn (Wugeng), when the sun enters the Xun position, the rooster crows. Generally, only female birds lay eggs, while males do not; however, roosters occasionally produce eggs due to Yin Qi invading after extreme Yang. These eggs are smaller than those laid by hens, with shells as hard as stone and slightly reddish in color. In medicine, they have miraculous uses, such as calming the fetus and reducing the density of smallpox lesions.

Wang Qiu's *Qiudeng Conghua* records: At Bada Ridge in Gubeikou, a Lama instructed an inspector named Zhang to purchase rooster eggs. Zhang laughed and said, "How can a rooster lay eggs?" leading to mutual skepticism. The Lama replied, "Not so. Where there is such a saying, there must be such a substance, though it may be difficult to find." Zhang casually agreed and informed his servant. The servant reported, "I heard that a villager ahead kept a rooster that laid three eggs consecutively. People considered this ominous, and an old woman, finding it strange, stored them away. She ordered me to fetch them for delivery." The Lama accepted one egg and paid fifty taels of silver. When Zhang asked about its use, the Lama said, "It treats eye diseases. Even if a person has been blind for years, applying the egg white to the eyes restores vision, similar to the effect of Kongqing (Azurite)."

Chen Cangqi's *Bencao Shiyi* notes: There exists a condition in chickens called "Baitai," which resembles an egg but is hard, containing only white without yolk. It is said to be produced by male chickens and is named "Fugongtai" (Father-Grandfather Egg).

*Ershen Yelu* records: In the 23rd year of Chenghua, a rooster at Tang Weixin's residence in Wu County laid an egg.

*Pinghu County Annals* record: In April of the 48th year of Wanli, a rooster belonging to Scholar Shi laid an egg resembling a sparrow's egg, with a purple-black color.

*Shi Yi Zuan* records: In the 2nd year of Tianqi, Wang Jinbang, a commoner in Shaanxi, had a rooster lay an egg.

*Sangang Shilue* records: On the 29th day of the 2nd lunar month in the Ren Shen year, a rooster in the official residence of Wei Yuanding of the Left Camp of the Tiao Biao unit laid two eggs consecutively.

*Shuyi Ji* records: In December of the Jia Xu year of the Kangxi reign, a rooster at Wu Nanlin's home in Songjiang laid an egg as large as a pigeon's egg. The shell was very thick and hard. Upon cracking it, both white and yolk were present. The white resembled solidified fat and did not disperse, while the yolk had a reddish hue.

*Zhizhi Tan'er* records: In the summer of the Ren Yin year of the Qianlong reign, a rooster at Qian Song's home in Hunan Village, Jiading, laid an egg indistinguishable from a hen's egg.

Mr. Ji Xiaolan stated: Rooster eggs are as large as the tip of a finger, resembling peanuts from Fujian, and are not perfectly round. They have spots on the exterior. When held up to the sun, the interior appears deep red like amber. Applying it to treat eye ailments is highly effective. De Shaokong Cheng and Wang Fuxian Chengpei both used this substance in medicinal preparations, but it is rare and difficult to obtain, with a single egg worth ten taels of silver. A Shaosinong Di Si remarked, "Although rarely seen, this is actually achieved through human effort. By confining a robust rooster in a cage and placing a group of hens outside, allowing them to be close but not touch, the essence accumulates over time, naturally forming an egg. This is logically plausible. However, since chickens inherit the Qi of Xun Wind, consuming their meat induces sores and toxins. The egg forms because excessive Yang Qi is retained and stagnates, inevitably harboring heat. It is unclear how it can brighten the eyes. This is unrecorded in herbal texts and unmentioned in medical classics; thus, the reason for its efficacy remains obscure." Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang added, "Some sell snake eggs as counterfeits. If they do not appear red when held to the sun, they are fake. This is something one must know."

My commentary: Various books record that roosters laying eggs has existed since ancient times and is not inherently abnormal. According to Chen Cangqi, some contain only white; whereas *Shuyi Ji* describes those with both white and yolk. Presumably, these arise from intermittent Qi, and their appearance varies. In the Geng Xu year of Qianlong, a released rooster at Cisheng Temple in Lin'an suddenly began laying eggs, producing one daily for over ten days, which people found unusual. The eggs were smaller, purple-black, and had hard shells. A tinsmith took one. I was staying in Lin'an at the time and sought to acquire it, but it was gone. The tinsmith, from Huizhou, claimed the egg white could be used medicinally and requested to take it back to his hometown. However, this substance is not solely for medicinal use. Mr. Li Huaibai stated that he saw Lamas using rooster eggs while chanting black sutras; exorcists in Sichuan used them for ritual appeasement; and the White Lotus Sect used them to break enchantments. Modern people only recognize its strangeness, unaware that nature produces it specifically for worldly utility.

Efficacy: Calms the fetus, reduces smallpox density, restores vision.