Library

(There are eight species in the categories of "Residing Species" and "Strange Species")

(From *Zhenglei Bencao*)
[Names] Mu Hou (from *Shiji*), Wei Hou (from *Shuowen Jiezi*), Ma Liu (from *Juanyou Lu*), Ju. Li Shizhen states: According to Ban Gu's *Baihu Tongyi*, "Hou" (monkey) is derived from "Hou" (to wait/observe). When it sees humans setting out food with hidden traps, it climbs to a high place and looks around, being adept at observing and waiting. Monkeys like to wipe their faces as if bathing, hence called "Mu Hou". Later generations mispronounced "Mu" as "Mu" (mother), and then "Mu" (mother) as "Mi", leading to further deviation from the original meaning. *Shuowen Jiezi* states that the character "Wei" resembles the shape of a female monkey. It refers to Mu Hou, not specifically females. The monkey's appearance resembles Hu people (people from the northwest), hence called "Hu Sun". *Zhuangzi* calls it "Ju". Horse breeders keep them in stables to prevent horse diseases; they are commonly known as "Ma Liu" in Hu regions. *Fan Shu* calls it "Mo Si".

[Collection and Explanation] Shen Wei says: There are several types of macaques, collectively referred to as the *Yu* genus. Those selected for use should have yellow fur, red faces, and long tails. Macaques kept by households are not primarily used for medicine because they eat miscellaneous foods and violate their natural nature. According to *Baopuzi*: A monkey becomes a Yuan (ape-like monkey) after 800 years, a Yuan becomes a Jue (a large monkey) after 500 years, and a Jue becomes a toad after 1,000 years. Li Shizhen states: Monkeys are found in deep mountains everywhere. They resemble humans, with eyes like sorrowful Hu people, and hollowed cheeks containing cheek pouches. The sound is 'qian', referring to the storage place for food. Their abdomens lack spleens to assist digestion, and their rumps are hairless with short tails. Their hands and feet resemble humans, and they can walk upright. Their voice sounds like hacking coughs. They gestate for five months before giving birth, often bathing newborns in streams. Their nature is restless and destructive. To tame them, keepers place them on perches and whip them for dozens of days until they submit. There are several subtypes: Small with short tails are monkeys; resembling monkeys but with more beard hair are Jue; larger than monkeys are You; large with long tails and red eyes are Yu; small with long tails and upturned noses are [unclear character]; larger than [unclear] are Guoran; smaller than [unclear] are Mengsong; resembling [unclear] but good at leaping are [unclear]; resembling monkeys but with long arms are apes; resembling apes but with golden tails are langurs (Rong); resembling apes but larger, capable of eating apes and monkeys, are Du. Those not used for medicine are attached to their respective categories.

[Appendix] Que (sound 'que'). Li Shizhen states: Que is an old monkey. It lives in the mountains beyond the western borders of Shu. It resembles a monkey but is larger, with dark blackish-grey fur, and can walk like a human. It is skilled at grabbing people and objects, and looking back, hence called Que. It is purely male without females, hence also called Que Fu or simply Que. It abducts women as mates and produces offspring. Additionally, *Shenyi Jing* records: In the west, there is a beast named KT, as large as a donkey, shaped like a monkey, skilled at climbing trees. It is purely female without males, living in groups along roads, capturing men to mate and become pregnant. This is also a type of Que, but with reversed sexes.

Ju (sound 'ju'). According to Guo Pu: Found in Pingjian Mountains. As large as a dog, shaped like a monkey, yellow-black in color, with abundant beard and mane. It likes to shake its head, lift stones, and throw them at people. *Xishan Jing* states: On Chongwu Mountain, there is a beast resembling Yu but with long arms skilled at throwing, named Jufu. This is it.

Meat
[Properties and Flavor] Sour, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications] Various wind-lao conditions; excellent for brewing wine. Eaten as jerky, it treats chronic malaria (Shen Wei). Consuming it wards off miasma and epidemics (Li Shizhen).

Skull Bone
[Indications] Malaria caused by miasma. Decocted for bathing children suffering from infantile convulsions, ghost-induced cold and fever (Shen Wei).
[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription.
Ghost malaria with unpredictable progression and regression: Use one skull bone of a Hu Sun (macaque), burn it to ash and grind into powder. Take one qian with warm wine on an empty stomach, and take another dose just before an attack occurs. (*Shenghui Fang*)

Hands
[Indications] Infantile convulsions with locked jaw (Shen Wei).

Feces
[Indications] Applied topically for spider bites (Shen Wei). For infantile umbilical tetanus (mouth closing) and acute infantile convulsions, burn to ash, mix with a small amount of raw honey, and administer orally (Li Shizhen. From *Xin Jian* and *Weisheng Fang*).

Skin
Shen Wei states: Treats horse epidemic qi.
Li Shizhen states: *Ma Jing* records: Keeping female monkeys in horse stables wards off horse plague. Every month, menstrual blood flows onto the grass; when horses eat this grass, they remain free from disease forever.