Library

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

**Names**: Haitun (Sea Dolphin, cited from *Wenxuan*). Those living in rivers are called Jiangtun (River Porpoise, cited from *Wuzhi*), Ji Yu (pronounced 'Zhi'), and Chan Yu.
Li Shizhen stated: Both the Sea Dolphin and River Porpoise are named after their shapes. This is consistent with Guo Pu's fu mentioning "Haitun" and "Jiangtun". The *Wei Wu Shi Zhi* refers to them as [text missing]. The *Nanfang Yiwu Zhi* calls them Water Pigs. They are also known as Chan Yu (Greedy Fish), referring to their abundance of saliva.

**Collection**: Cang Qi stated: The Sea Dolphin lives in the sea, emerging and disappearing according to wind and tides. Its shape resembles a piglet, with its nose located on top of its head, capable of making sounds and spraying water straight up. They travel in herds numbering in the hundreds or thousands. Their offspring resemble the roe of Li Yu (a type of fish), with tens of thousands following their mothers. When humans capture the young and tether them in the water, the mother dolphin comes voluntarily to retrieve them. The River Porpoise lives in rivers; it is shaped like the Sea Dolphin but smaller, appearing and disappearing on the water surface. Boatmen observe it to predict wind direction. It contains oil which, when used to light a lamp, makes playing Chupu (a board game) bright, but dims the light for reading or working. Folklore says it is transformed from lazy women.
Li Shizhen stated: Their size is comparable to pigs weighing several hundred jin. Their color is blue-black, resembling [text missing], possessing two nipples, distinguishing male and female, with features resembling humans. Several swim together, one floating while another sinks, a behavior called "Bai Feng" (Bow to the Wind). Their bones are hard, their flesh fat, but they are not suitable for consumption. Their grease is abundant; mixed with calcined stone (Duanshi) and applied to boats, it is effective.

**Flavor and Nature**: Salty, fishy, tasting like beef, non-toxic.

**Therapeutic Actions**: Treats Feishi (Flying Corpse disease), Guduo (Gu poison), and Zhangnue (Malarial fevers caused by miasma). Consumed as dried meat jerky (Cang Qi).

**Fat**:
**Therapeutic Actions**: Applied externally to treat severe sores, scabies, tinea, hemorrhoids, and scabies in dogs and horses. Kills parasites (Cang Qi).

(From *Shiliao Bencao* / Food Therapy Materia Medica)

**Names**: Die (Pleuronectiformes/Flatfish, pronounced 'Die'), Xiedi Yu (Sole-shaped Fish).
Li Shizhen stated: "Bi" means side-by-side. Each fish has only one eye and swims paired side-by-side. The *Erya* states, "In the East there is a Bi Mu Yu (Side-by-side Fish); it cannot move without pairing, its name is Die." This refers to this fish. Duan Shi's [text missing] refers to it as [text missing, pronounced 'Xu']. "Die" is homophonous with "Tie" (stick/adhere); it is also called Bixi Yu (Maids' Slipper Fish). The *Lin Hai Shuitu Ji* calls it Nu [text missing] Yu. The *Nanyue Zhi* calls it Ban Yu. The *Nanfang Yiwu Zhi* calls it Ruoye Yu (Rattan Leaf Fish). All names are derived from their shape.

**Collection**: Li Shizhen stated: According to records, Guo Pu said: It is found in waters everywhere. Its shape resembles a cow's spleen or a woman's shoe sole. It has fine scales that are purple-black. The two halves of its body join together to enable movement. The joined side is flat and scaleless, with the mouth located near the underside. Liu Yuanlin considered it to be Wangyu Fish, which is incorrect.

**Flavor and Nature**: Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.

**Therapeutic Actions**: Tonifies deficiency and boosts qi and strength. Excessive consumption causes qi stagnation (Meng Shen).