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Li Shizhen stated: "Beasts" is the general term for four-footed animals with fur, which are products of the earth. Those that are domesticated are called "livestock," as mentioned in *Suwen* (Basic Questions), where it says "the five livestock bring benefit." According to the Zhou dynasty system, the kitchen officials supplied the six livestock (horse, ox, chicken, sheep, dog, pig) and the six beasts (elk, deer, wild wolf, muntjac, rabbit, wild boar). They distinguished between dead and fresh/raw animal products. The beast officers identified their names and species. For sacrifices and banquets, they provided both dead and live beasts. Their skins, fur, bones, and tendons were stored in the Jade Treasury (an institution managing precious items). Ming Shi was responsible for subduing fierce beasts, while Xue Shi handled hibernating beasts. Alas! The sages' approach to nourishing life, attending to the deceased, distinguishing objects, and utilizing materials was indeed cautious and comprehensive. In later generations, such as the yellow sheep and yellow weasel, became imperial tributes; sable tails became highly fashionable. The uniqueness of the mountain otter and the efficacy of the dog gallstone were necessary for consumption, yet were omitted from classical texts. Regarding sheep, Confucius alone possessed unique knowledge; regarding mice, Zhong Jun could thoroughly investigate them. Earth-born sheep and the flesh of Penghou—only erudite gentlemen could distinguish them? Moreover, since the nature and principles of things vary greatly, human selection and rejection should be prudent, going beyond merely knowing their names. Thus, I collected various beasts suitable for diet, medicine, clothing, and utensils, totaling 86 species, divided into five categories: Livestock, Beasts, Rats, Apes (The *Erya* explains that beasts include rat families and ape families. Xing Bing's commentary states: Monkeys gradually resemble humans and inhabit mountains and forests, hence called the ape family), and Monsters (The old edition of the Beast section had three grades, totaling 58 species. Now merged into five types, one moved to the Scale section, one to the Bird section, and three transferred from the Insect section). *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica): 15 species (annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang); *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians): 11 species (annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang); Tang Bencao: 8 species (Su Gong of Tang); *Bencao Shiyi* (Supplement to Materia Medica): 16 species (Chen Zangqi of Tang); *Paozhi Lun* (Treatise on Processing): 1 species (Lei Xiao of Liu Song); *Shu Bencao*: 1 species (Han Baosheng of Former Shu); *Kaibao Bencao*: 4 species (Ma Zhi of Song); *Jia You Bencao*: 1 species (Zhang Yuxi of Song); *Tujing Bencao*: 1 species (Su Song of Song); *Zhenglei Bencao*: 1 species (Tang Shenwei of Song); *Bencao Yan Yi* (Expanded Meaning of Materia Medica): 1 species (Kou Zongshi of Song); *Riyong Bencao*: 1 species (Wu Rui of Yuan); *Shiwu Bencao*: 1 species (Wang Ying of Ming); 23 species (Li Shizhen of Ming).

[Appendix] Li Dangzhi's *Yaolu* (Wei Dynasty); Wu Pu's *Bencao*; Lei Xiao's *Paozhi* (Song Dynasty); Xu Zhicai's *Yao Dui* (Qi Dynasty); Zhen Quan's *Yaoxing* (Tang Dynasty); Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Golden Prescriptions); Li Xun's *Haiyao Bencao* (Tang Dynasty); Yang Sunzhi's *Shanfan Bencao*; Xiao Bing's *Sisheng Bencao*; Meng Shen's *Shiliao Bencao* (Tang Dynasty); Wang Haogu's *Tangye Bencao*; Zhu Zhenheng's *Bencao Yan Yi Buyi* (Yuan Dynasty); Wang Ji's *Bencao Huibian*; Wang Lun's *Bencao Jiyao*; Chen Jiamo's *Bencao Mengquan*.