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(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)

[Names] Rushimu Bird (from *Xuanzhong Ji*), Night-Walking Wandering Woman (ibid.), Heavenly Emperor's Young Maiden (ibid.), Innocent Bird (ibid.), Hidden Flyer (from *Xuanzhong Ji*), Ghost Bird (from *Bencao Shiyi*).

Li Shizhen stated: Ancient people said this bird was transformed from a woman who died in childbirth, being an evil yin energy manifesting as a demon, hence these names.

[Collected Explanations] Chen Zangqi stated: The Ghuohuo Bird can capture human souls and spirits. *Xuanzhong Ji* records: The Ghuohuo Bird belongs to the category of ghosts and deities. When wearing feathers, it is a flying bird; when shedding feathers, it becomes a woman. It is said to be transformed from women who died in childbirth, therefore having two breasts on its chest. It likes to take other people's children to raise as its own. In households with infants, clothes should not be left exposed outdoors at night. This bird flies at night and marks clothing with blood drops. Children thereby often suffer from convulsions, epilepsy, and malnutrition diseases, known as "Innocent Malnutrition" (Wugu Gan). There are many such birds in Jingzhou. They are also called Ghost Birds. The official title "Tingshi" in *Zhou Li* mentions "using bows for saving the sun and arrows for saving the moon to shoot down Yao Birds," referring to this bird.

Li Shizhen stated: This bird is purely female without males, flying at night in the seventh and eighth lunar months, causing particularly severe harm to humans.

(From *Bencao Gangmu* / Compendium of Materia Medica)

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: According to Gan Bao's *Soushen Ji*: In the deep mountains of Yue, there is a bird called Zhi Niao, large as a turtledove, with blue-green plumage. It bores holes in trees to make nests, about the size of a five-to-six-sheng vessel, with an opening of several inches, decorated with white lime mixed with earth, red and white alternating, resembling an archery target. Woodcutters avoid such trees; offending them allows the bird to command tigers to harm people and burn their houses. Seen by day, it takes the form of a bird; heard by night, its cry is that of a bird; occasionally it assumes human form, three feet tall, entering streams to catch crabs, then roasting and eating them over human fire. Mountain people call it the "Ancestor of Yue Shamans." Additionally, Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu* records: Folklore says someone once encountered a flood, ate the bark of Du trees, starved to death, and transformed into this creature. Those dwelling in tree roots are called Zhu Du (Pig Du); those in the trunk are Ren Du (Human Du); those in the branches are Niao Du (Bird Du). Niao Du has a mirror-like mark under its left flank, two inches wide. People in the south eat its nest, which tastes like wood fungus. I privately speculate that among beasts there are Shandu, Shan , and Muke, and among birds there are Zhi Niao, Shanxiao, and Muke Niao. Are these all endowments of aberrant qi, receiving the same essence but differing in form? Now appended below:

[Appendix] Muke Niao Li Shizhen stated: According to *Yiwu Zhi*: Muke Niao is large as a magpie, gathering in hundreds and thousands, flying and settling in regulated patterns. Commonly described as yellowish-white with wings and crests. The one flying highest alone is the Ruler or Chief; the one directly ahead in bright red is the Five Hegemons; the one entirely black is Lingxia; those pale yellow mixed with red are Gongcao; those with a white band on the left flank are Zhubu. Each has distinct color markings. Found east of Luling Commandery.

Duzu Niao Also known as Shanxiao Niao. *Guangzhou Zhi* records: Duzu Niao is found in Fujian and Guangdong. Large as a swan, dark-colored, calling out its own name. *Linhai Yiwu Zhi* records: Duzu Niao has tattooed skin and a red mouth, hiding by day and flying by night, sometimes appearing by day where flocks of birds clamor at it. It eats only insects, not rice or millet. Its sound resembles human wailing, becoming louder before rain. This is the one-legged bird mentioned by Confucius, Shangyang. *Shan Hai Jing* records: On [Name Missing] Mountain, there is a bird shaped like an owl, with a human face and one leg, named Tuofei... Earth spirit, similar to a goose, one-legged yellow, harming humans if destroyed. Nest surface...

[Indications] Made into shoe insoles to treat Hong Kong Foot (tinea pedis) (Li Shizhen, citing *Youyang Zazu*).