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(From *Tang Bencao* [Compendium of Materia Medica of the Tang Dynasty])

[Names] Bo-bai-suo-fu-luo (from *Fan Shu* [Book of Sanskrit]).

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong stated: Coral grows in the South Sea, and is also imported from Persia and Simsi Guo (Lion Country).

Su Song stated: Currently, it is also found in Guangzhou. It is said to grow at the bottom of the sea in a branch-like shape, bright and lustrous like red jade, with many holes in the center, though some have no holes. Those with more branches are harder to obtain, and there is no fixed time for harvesting. I respectfully consulted the *Hai Zhong Jing* [Classic of the Sea], which states: To harvest coral, an iron net is first made and sunk to the bottom of the water. The coral grows through the net, increasing in height by two or three chi annually. It has branches but no leaves. When the net is hauled up, the coral breaks within the net, making intact specimens rare. I do not know if this is truly how they are harvested today. In the Ji Cui Pool of the Han Dynasty, there was a coral specimen one zhang and two chi high, with one main stem and three branches, bearing 463 twigs, said to be presented by Zhao Tuo, King of Nanyue, emitting light at night. Shi Chong of the Jin Dynasty owned a coral six or seven chi high. Today, such tall specimens are rarely heard of.

Chen Cangqi stated: There is coral with a red-oil color, possessing fine longitudinal striations that are pleasing. There is also coral resembling the color of lead-red (minium), without striations, which is considered inferior grade. For medicinal use, the red-oil colored variety is used. In the sea of Persia, there is a Coral Reef Island. Divers board large ships and sink iron nets to the seabed to collect it. Coral initially grows on bedrock, white as fungi; after one year it turns yellow, and after three years it turns red. The branches and stems intertwine, reaching three or four chi in height. Divers use iron tools to pry its roots, attach them to nets on the ship, and haul them out. If not harvested in time, they will rot and decay.

Li Shizhen stated: Coral grows at the bottom of the sea, with five or seven plants forming a forest, called a Coral Forest. Submerged, it is straight and soft; exposed to wind and sun, it becomes curved and hard. The variety that turns red is superior; Zhao Tuo of the Han Dynasty called it "Fire Tree." There are also black varieties, which are not good, and greenish-blue varieties, which are also excellent. Ancients referred to the greenish-blue ones as Qinglanggan [Azure Jade], all of which can be used to make beads. Xu Shen's *Shuo Wen Jie Zi* states: Coral is red in color; some grow in the sea, some grow in the mountains.

Based on this description, those growing in the sea are coral, while those growing in the mountains are Langgan [Azure Jade], which further confirms this distinction. See the entry for Langgan below.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications] Removes nebulae (opacities) from the eyes, resolves old blood stasis. Ground into powder and insufflated into the nose, it stops epistaxis (from *Tang Bencao*).

Brightens the eyes, calms the heart, and stops convulsions and epilepsy (from *Da Ming Bencao*). Applied to the eyes, it removes foreign filaments (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi stated: The therapeutic effects of coral are similar to those of gold.

Chen Cheng stated: Nowadays, people use it as eye-dropping sticks to treat ocular nebulae.

Chen Cangqi stated: When pierced, coral exudes juice like blood. By adding gold to it, pills named Jinjiang [Gold Paste] are made; by adding jade, pills named Yusui [Jade Marrow] are made. Long-term consumption promotes longevity.

[Attached Prescriptions] One old prescription. For infant bran-like nebulae that are not yet firm, chaotic medication should be avoided. It is advisable to grind coral into powder and apply a small amount to the eyes daily; it will heal in three days. (Qian Xianggong, *Qiezhong Fang*)