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(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

[Names] Wuzhe (from *Suwen*), Moyu (from *Bencao Gangmu*).
The bone is named Haipiaoxiao.
Su Song said: Tao Hongjing stated that this fish is transformed from the bird. Currently, its mouth and feet remain, still resembling the bird somewhat. It contains ink inside that can be used, hence the name Wuzhe. It can suck in waves, feign death to lure the bird to peck at it, then curl up and dive into the water to eat it. Thus it is named Wuzhe, meaning "thief harming birds."
Li Shizhen said: According to Luo Yuan's *Erya Yi*: In September, when cold arrives, the bird enters the water and transforms into this fish. It has patterns and ink that serve as rules, hence the name Wuzhe. "Zhe" means rule. The bone is named Haipiaoxiao, taking its form as inspiration.
Ma Zhi (Daming) said: This fish has two whiskers; when encountering wind and waves, it uses them like anchors or sticks to rocks like cables, hence the name Lanyu.
Tang Shenwei (Rui) said: Salt-dried ones are called Mingxiang, and lightly dried ones are called Puxiang.

[Collection and Explanation] *Bielu* states: Wuzhe fish lives in the ponds and marshes of the East Sea. It can be caught at any time.
Su Song said: They are found in coastal prefectures. Their shape resembles a leather bag, with the mouth located under the abdomen, and eight legs clustered around the mouth. There is only one bone on its back, three to four fen thick, shaped like a small boat, light, hollow, and white. There are also two long, ribbon-like whiskers. The blood and gallbladder inside are black like ink and can be used for writing. However, after a year, the marks disappear, leaving only empty paper. People say Wuzhe carries ink and knows propriety, so it is commonly referred to as a low-ranking clerk of the Sea God.
Li Shizhen said: Wuzhe has no scales but has whiskers, black skin, and white flesh; large specimens are like palm fans. When fried and eaten with ginger and vinegar, it is crisp and delicious. Haipiaoxiao resembles a chupu seed but is longer, pointed at both ends, white in color, crisp like reed pith, with layered textures, and can be carved with fingernails for ornaments. Also, *Xianganzhi* states: Wuzhe becomes smaller after the Jiaoman solar term.
Chen Cangqi said: Seafarers say: When King Qin traveled east, he dropped his abacus pouch into the sea, which transformed into this fish. Hence its shape resembles the pouch, and the ink remains in its belly.
Yu Xi said: Tao Hongjing and *Shuben Tu Jing* both state it is transformed from the bird. The bird is a waterbird, resembling a short-necked species, with purple-white belly and wings, and green back. Tang dynasty's Su Gong claimed there is no such bird, which was an error.

[Flavor and Properties] Sour, neutral, non-toxic.
Tang Shenwei said: Tastes precious and delicious. Can stir up wind-qi.

[Indications] Tonifies qi and strengthens willpower (*Bielu*). Benefits the body and regulates menstruation (Daming).

[Bone (also known as Haipiaoxiao)]
[Preparation] Tao Hongjing said: Roast until yellow before use.
Yue said: Do not use shark bone, as its shape is very similar. However, those with longitudinal texture are genuine, while those with transverse texture are fake. Soak in brine and boil for one shichen (two hours), then remove. Dig a pit, heat it red-hot, place the fish bone inside, leave overnight, then remove for medicinal use; this doubles the efficacy.
[Flavor and Properties] Salty, slightly warm, non-toxic.
Li Dizhi (Pu) said: Cold nature.
Xu Zhicai (Quan) said: Slightly toxic.
Meng Shen (Zhicai) said: Adversely interacts with Baiji, Baidian, and Fuzi. Can desalinate salt, stabilize mercury, and shrink silver.
[Indications] Treats leukorrhea (red and white discharge), amenorrhea, genital erosion with swelling and pain, alternating cold and fever with abdominal masses, and infertility (*Benjing*). Treats abdominal pain surrounding the navel, cold swelling in the male genitals, promotes fertility, and stops chronic suppurating wounds (*Bielu*).
(Ri Hua Zi Bencao): Roasted and powdered, taken with water, treats uterine fibroids in women, dysentery in adults and children, and kills parasites (Cangqi. Also says: Throwing the bone into a well kills all insects in the water). Treats tearing eyes and various floating nebulae; powder mixed with honey applied to the eyes. Long-term use benefits essence (Meng Shen. Gong says: Also treats cataracts in cattle and horses).
Treats blood deficiency syndrome in women, hematemesis and hematochezia due to liver injury, malaria, and goiter. Powder applied to treat infantile malnutrition sores, foul-smelling varicella sores, male genital ulcers, burns, scalds, and traumatic bleeding. Calcined to retain charred properties, taken with wine, treats deep dyspareunia in women. Mixed with egg yolk, applied to treat double tongue and thrush in infants. Mixed with Puhuang powder, applied to swollen tongue with spurting blood. Mixed with Huaihua powder insufflated into the nose, stops epistaxis. Mixed with Yinzhu insufflated into the nose, treats throat bi. Mixed with Baifan powder insufflated into the nose, treats pain from scorpion stings. Mixed with Shexiang insufflated into the ear, treats otorrhea and deafness (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Wuzhe treats dysentery and malnutrition diseases, which are primary disorders of the Jueyin channel. Alternating cold and fever malaria, deafness, goiter, lower abdominal pain, and genital pain are disorders of the Jueyin meridian. Eyelid nebulae and tearing are disorders of the Jueyin orifice. Jueyin belongs to the Liver, and the Liver governs blood; therefore, it treats various blood disorders. According to *Suwen*: "There is a disease with fullness and distension in the chest and hypochondrium, interfering with eating. Before the onset, the patient smells a foul odor. Soon after, there is massive blood loss. Or, after sexual intercourse while drunk, the middle qi is exhausted and the liver is injured, causing menstrual flow to diminish and cease. Treatment involves making a powder from Si Wuze Gu and Yiru, forming pills with quail eggs, size of small beans. Take five pills per dose, washed down with cuttlefish juice, to benefit the intestines and heal the liver." Observing this prescription, it is undoubtedly that Wuzhe enters the blood aspect of the Jueyin channel.

[Correction of Errors] Zhang Ding said: Long-term use leads to sterility.
Li Shizhen said: According to *Benjing*, it treats abdominal masses and infertility. *Bielu* says it enables conception.
Zhang Ding's statement contradicts this directly and is erroneous. If it is said that blood disorders should avoid excessive salty taste, and Wuzhe treats blood stasis, this view might arise. However, amenorrhea has two types: excess (blood stasis) and deficiency (liver injury). Wuzhe can stop bleeding and invigorate blood; combined, how could it cause sterility? We should follow *Benjing* and *Bielu*. To prevent the spread of error, I clarify this.

[Attached Prescriptions] Three old prescriptions. Twenty-one new prescriptions.
Female Blood Deficiency: See above.
Red and White Nebulae: *Shenghui Fang*: Treats eye infection from cold-heat toxin, causing red and white nebulae. Use one liang of Wuzhe fish bone, remove skin, powder, add a little Longnao, apply to eyes three times daily.
Treating Various Nebulae: Use Haipiaoxiao...
Red Nebula Growing Over Pupil: Zhaoshui Dan: Treats eye nebulae (especially effective for dense ones) and red nebula growing over the pupil. Use one qian of Haipiaoxiao, half a qian of Chensha, finely ground and washed with water. Mix with a little yellow wax to form a paste. At bedtime, roll into millet-sized pills on fire, rub into the eye. Wash out with warm water at dawn. If not resolved, use once more for effect. (*Haishang Fang*)
Night Blindness: Half a jin of Haipiaoxiao powder, mixed with three liang of melted yellow wax, formed into coin-sized cakes. Take one cake per dose. Slice two liang of pig liver with a bamboo knife, sprinkle medicine, tie securely, cook in half a bowl of rice wash water, eat and drink the broth. (*Yangshi Jiacang Fang*)
Blood Wind Red Eye: Common in women. Use two qian of Wuzhe fish bone, one qian of Tongqing, powder. Use one qian per dose, soak and wash with hot water. (*Yangshi Jiacang Fang*)
Malnutrition Eye Tearing: Equal parts Wuzhe fish bone and Muli. Powder, pill with paste to size of soap bean. Take one pill per dose, cooked with one pig eyeball in rice wash water, eat. (*Jingyan Fang*)
Ear Oozing Pus: Half a qian of Haipiaoxiao, one zi of Shexiang, powder. Clean with cotton swab, insufflate into ear. (*Danliao Fang*)
Nasal Ulcer Malnutrition: One qian each of Wuzhe fish bone and Baiji, two zi of Qingfen, powder, apply. (Qian Yi)
Infant Umbilical Bleeding and Pus: Haipiaoxiao and Yanzhi powder, mix with oil, apply. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Scalp Sores: Two qian each of Haipiaoxiao and Baijiaoxiang, five fen of Qingfen, powder. Cleanse with oil first, then apply powder. Heals in two to three applications. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Vitiligo: Wipe redness with cloth, grind Haipiaoxiao in three-year-old vinegar, apply. (*Waitai Miyao*)
Carbuncle and Malignant Swelling: Prick to bleed first, sprinkle Haipiaoxiao powder; the carbuncle head will emerge. (*Pujifang*)
Scorpion Sting Pain: One qian of Wuzhe bone, two fen of Baifan, powder, insufflate into nose. On the left side... (*Baodian*)
Moxibustion Ulcer Not Healing: Equal parts Haipiaoxiao and Baifan, powder. Apply daily. (*Qianjin Fang*)
Infant Phlegm for Years: Haipiaoxiao powder, take one qian with rice drink. (Ye Shi *Zhai Xuan Fang*)
Hematuria and Strangury: One qian of Haipiaoxiao powder, mix with fresh Rehmannia juice. Another formula: Haipiaoxiao, Shengdihuang, Chi Shao Yao... Take one qian, wash down with Cebaiye and Cheqian decoction. (*Jingyan Fang*)
Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: For adults and children, with internal hemorrhoids, intestinal wind, and prolonged bleeding with frequent hunger. First, roast Haipiaoxiao until yellow, remove skin, powder. Take one qian, wash down with Muzei decoction. After three days, take Pig Intestine Huanglian Wan. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Sudden Hematemesis: Wuzhe bone powder, take two qian with rice drink. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Fish Bone Stuck in Throat: Equal parts Elephant Ivory Scraps, Wuzhe fish bone, and aged tangerine peel (roasted). Powder, mix with Han Shi mian and maltose, pill to size of Erythrophleum seed. Take one pill, hold in mouth and swallow juice. (*Shengji Zonglu*)
Swollen Tongue Spurting Blood: Equal parts Wuzhe bone and Puhuang, stir-fry to fine powder. Apply. (*Jianbian Danfang*)
Traumatic Bleeding: Wuzhe fish bone powder, apply. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Scrotal Damp Itching: Wuzhe bone and Puhuang, dust upon. (*Yizong Sanfa*)
Blood...
[Indication] Deafness (Zhen Quan).
Ink in Abdomen
[Indication] Blood-stabbing heart pain, grind with vinegar and take (Cangqi. Stir-fried, powdered, taken with vinegar is also acceptable).

[Appendix] Youyu Su Song said: A type of soft squid, similar to Wuzhe but without bone. People from Yue value it highly.