Library

(From *Riyong Bencao* [Daily Use Materia Medica])

[Names] Lingzhi (from *Lingyuan Fang*).

[Collection and Explanation] Wu Rui stated: Shi'er (Stone Ear, a type of edible lichen) grows on the rocky cliffs of mountains such as Tiantai, Siming, Henan, Xuanzhou, Huangshan, Baxi, and various border regions. From afar, it resembles smoke.
Li Shizhen stated: It is also abundant in Mount Lu, resembling Di'er (Earth Ear). Monks in the mountains harvest and sun-dry it to gift to people far away. After washing off the sand and soil, it is cooked as a vegetable and tastes superior to Mu'er (Wood Ear), making it a premium variety.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
Ying stated: Cold. Duan Chengshi stated: Hot.

[Indications] Long-term consumption enhances complexion, maintaining youthful appearance into old age, reduces hunger, and decreases the frequency of urination and defecation (Wu Rui).
Improves vision and benefits essence (Li Shizhen).

[Attached Prescriptions] One new prescription.
For prolapse of the rectum due to blood loss: Shi'er (Stone Ear) 5 liang (stir-fried), Bai Kufan (White Calcined Alum) 1 liang, Mituoeng (Lead Monoxide) 0.5 liang. Grind into powder, mix with steamed dough pills to the size of wutong seeds. Take 20 pills per dose with rice water. (From *Pujifang*)

Cross-reference with various vegetables: Xiangru (Moslae Herba), Zisu (Perillae Folium), Ziwan (Asteris Radix et Rhizoma), Zancai, Niuximiao (Achyranthis Bidentatae Herba), Fangfengmiao, Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Rensu, Malan, Louhao, Zelan Gen (Agrimoniae Radix), Dihuang Miao (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata Herba), various Kuicai (Malvae Herba), Suanmo, Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), Niubangmiao (Arctii Fructus Herba), Qingxiangmiao, Longkui, Jueming, Ganlan, Luo, Honghuamiao (Carthami Flos Herba), Cheqianmiao (Plantaginis Herba), Xuancacao, Lusun, Jiaosun, Ping, Haitaicai, Dushoumiao, Yangti, Pusun, Cai, Qitouhao, Kunbumeao, Kunbu (Laminariae Thallus), Disong, Liaoya, Haizao (Sargassum Thallus), Wanggua, Baibu (Stemonae Radix), Ousi, Hetou, Qianjing, Lijing, Duohuo, Douya, Doujia, Doufu, Yangsuumiao, Chunya, Huaiya, Wuyi, Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Zaojiamiao, Yuya, Jinnya, Zongsun, Wujia (Acanthopanacis Cortex).

Li Shizhen said: The fruit of trees is called Guo (fruit), while the fruit of herbs is called Luo (gourd-like fruits). When ripe, they are edible; when dried, they can be made into preserved snacks.
In times of abundance, they can aid during scarcity; in times of illness, they can serve as medicine. They assist staple grains to nourish the people. Thus, *Suwen* states: "The five fruits serve as assistance." The five fruits correspond to the five zang organs via the five flavors and five colors; examples include Li (Prunus salicina), Xing (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Tao (Persicae Semen), Li (Castaneae Fructus), and Zao (Jujubae Fructus). Ancient texts suggest that to know the harvest of the five grains, one should observe the prosperity or decline of the five fruits (Li corresponds to adzuki bean, Xing to barley, Tao to wheat, Li to rice, Zao to millet). *Liji Neize* lists fruits such as ling, luo, zhen, and gua. The official *Zhifangshi* in the Zhou dynasty distinguished products of five terrains: forests suit zao items (such as oak and chestnut); rivers and marshes suit gao items (such as lotus root and euryale seed); hills suit he items (such as plum and prune). The *Dianshi* manages wild fruits, and the *Changren* plants fruits and exotic items for seasonal storage. Observing this, we see that local productions of fruits vary greatly, and their properties, flavors, and toxicity differ significantly. How can one indulge desires without understanding the nature of things? Therefore, I collected the fruits of grasses and trees, classified those termed Guo and Luo into the Fruit Section, totaling 127 species. These are divided into six categories: Five Fruits, Mountain, Yi, Wei, Luo, and Water. The old edition's Fruit Section contained 53 species across three grades. Now, one is moved to the Vegetable Section, and four to the Grass Section. Thirty-one are transferred from the Wood Section and attached; four from the Grass Section; one from the Vegetable Section; and four from external categories.
*Shennong Bencao Jing*: 12 species (annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang)
*Mingyi Bielu*: 16 species (same source)
*Tang Bencao*: 11 species (Su Gong of Tang)
*Bencao Shiyi*: 20 species (Chen Cangqi of Tang)
*Haiyao Bencao*: 1 species (Li Xun of Tang)
*Shixing Bencao*: 1 species (Chen Shiliang of Tang)
*Shiliao Bencao*: 1 species (Meng Shen of Tang)
*Kaibao Bencao*: 19 species (Ma Zhi of Song)
*Jiayou Bencao*: 2 species (Zhang Yuxi of Song)
*Tujing Bencao*: 5 species (Su Song of Song)
*Rihua Bencao*: 2 species (Da Ming of Song)
*Shiwu Bencao*: 1 species (Wang Ying of Ming)
*Riyong Bencao*: 2 species (Wu Rui of Yuan)
*Bencao Huibian*: 1 species (Wang Ji of Ming)
*Bencao Gangmu*: 33 species (Li Shizhen of Ming)

[Annotations] Wei Dynasty *Wu Pu Bencao*; Li Dangzhi *Bencao*; Song Dynasty Lei Xiao *Paozhi Lun*; Qi Dynasty Xu Zhicai *Yaodui*; Tang Dynasty Zhen Quan *Yaoxing*; Sun Simiao *Qianjin Fang*; Tang Dynasty Xiao Bing *Sixiang Bencao*; Yang Sunzhi *Shanfan*; Shu Han Han Baosheng *Chongzhu*; Song Dynasty Kou Zongshi *Yanyi*; Tang Dynasty Shen Wei *Zhenglei Bencao*; Jin Dynasty Zhang Yuansu *Zhenzhunang*; Yuan Dynasty Li Gao *Faxiang Bencao*; Wang Haogu *Tangye Bencao*; Zhu Zhenheng *Buyi*; Ming Dynasty Ning Yuan *Shijian*; Prince Ding of Zhou *Jiu Huang Bencao*; Chen Jiamo *Mengquan*.