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[Names] Li Shizhen stated: The *Xingxing* (orangutan) can speak and foretell the future, akin to the meaning of "Xingxing" (alertness or intelligence).

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: Regarding the *Xingxing*, there are dozens of accounts from texts such as *Erya* and *Yi Zhou Shu*. I have now compiled them as follows: The *Xingxing* is found in the valleys of Ailao Yi and Fengxi County, Jiaozhi. Its appearance resembles a dog or a macaque; it has yellow fur like an ape, white ears like a pig, a human face, human feet, long hair, and a dignified head and face. Its voice sounds like a crying infant or a barking dog. They move in groups, crouching and walking. Ruan stated: The Li people of Fengxi place wine and straw sandals by the roadside. When the *Xingxing* sees them, it calls out the names of human ancestors, scolds them, and then leaves. After a while, they gather again to taste the wine and wear the sandals, thereby getting captured and kept in cages. Just before being slaughtered, they would push forward the fattiest one among them, weeping to send it away. Western Hu people used its blood to dye fur so that the color would not fade; when drawing blood, they would ask for the quantity, stopping only after one dou had been collected. Furthermore, *Liji* also states that the *Xingxing* can speak, whereas Guo Yigong's *Guangzhi* claims it cannot speak, and *Shanhaijing* says it can understand human language. These three accounts differ. Generally, the *Xingxing* somewhat resembles a human form, belonging to the ape and monkey category. Even if it can speak, it should be like parrots, and need not be exactly as described by Ruan. Additionally, Luo Yuan in *Erya Yi* stated: Ancient descriptions of the *Xingxing* describe it as resembling a pig, a dog, or a monkey. Modern descriptions of the *Xingxing* are not far from those of the baboon. It is said to resemble a woman with disheveled hair and bare feet, lacking knees, walking in groups, and covering its body with its hands when encountering humans, called the "Wild Man." According to Luo's description, this seems to refer to what later generations called the "Wild Woman" or "Wild Hag," and could they be the same creature?

[Appendix] Wild Woman Tang Meng's *Bowuzhi* states: In the Rinan region, Wild Women appear, walking in groups without husbands. Their appearance is ugly and their skin is white; they are naked without clothes. Zhou Mi in *Qidong Yeyu* stated: The Wild Hag comes from Nandan Prefecture. She has yellow hair tied in a cone-shaped bun, is naked and barefoot, and looks like an old woman. There are only females, no males. She moves up and down the mountains and valleys as agilely as a flying monkey. From the waist down, she has skin covering her knees. Whenever she encounters a man, she carries him off seeking union. She was once killed by a strong man, but even until death, she protected her waist with her hands. Upon dissection, a seal about one inch square was found, crystal clear like pale jade, with characters resembling talismans.

Li Shizhen stated: Observing these two accounts together with the previous statements by Ruan and Luo, the Wild Woman appears to be the *Xingxing*. Furthermore, since male rats have testicles with patterns resembling talismans, and certain birds have mirror-like marks under their wings, the talismanic mark on the Wild Hag is not extraordinary. It likely possesses medicinal functions, though people are unaware of this.

Meat

[Properties and Flavors] Sweet, salty, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Consuming it prevents drowsiness and hunger, enables one to run well, allows one to go through the year without fatigue, and can be used for Bigu (grain avoidance). (Note by Li Shizhen: Derived from *Yi Shu*, *Shanhaijing*, and *Shuijing*).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: *Yi Shu* mentions that eating *Xingxing* meat makes one not drowsy, thus revealing its "Xingxing" (alert) nature. The ancients considered it a delicacy. Therefore, *Xunzi* states that the *Xingxing* can speak and laugh, has two feet and no hair, and humans drink its broth and eat its meat; *Lüshi Chunqiu* states that the most delicious meats are the lips of the *Xingxing* and the roasted meat of the Huanhuan, referring to this.