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(From *Bencao Shiyi* [Supplement to Materia Medica])

**[Names]** Xiaoqi (pronounced like "jiao"), Tuxiao (see *Erya*), Shanhou (Jin Zhuo's annotation), Jiyou (see *Sixteen Kingdoms History*), You (see *Book of Han*), Xunhu.

Li Shizhen stated: "You, xiao, and xunhu refer to their sounds; you refers to its color resembling mourning clothes. The folk misinterpretation of 'xunhu' as 'xinghu' is correct. Chi and you are two different birds. The Duke of Zhou chanted them together, leading later generations to mistakenly believe chi and you were the same bird, which is an error. The character 'you' cannot be verified in rhyme books; it should be pronounced with the cut 'xiōng yōng'. 'Youhun' and 'liuli' signify that it is an inauspicious bird. Wu Qiu's prescription calls it 'Zhuhun' (Soul-Chasing). When a xiao grows up, it eats its mother; therefore, ancients performed zhe sacrifice (dismemberment for ritual) on the Summer Solstice to drive it away, and the character 'xiao' depicts a bird head on a tree."

**[Collected Explanations]** Zang Qi said: "You is the xiao, also named you. People in Wu call it 'Youhun'; it is a bird with an unpleasant cry. Jia Yi said: 'You resembles xiao; in fact, they are one thing. If it enters the master's room, it should leave.' This bird cannot see objects at noon but flies at night, often entering houses to catch and eat mice. In the *Rites of Zhou*, the Cu Shi (Official in charge of covering corpses) was responsible for covering..."

Li Shizhen said: "You, chou, xiuliu, and xiao are all malevolent birds, and commentators often confuse their annotations. Jia Yi claimed you resembles xiao; Zang Qi argued you and xunhu are two different species; Xu Shen and Zhang Hua considered you and xiuliu to be the same; Wang Yi stated you is xunhu; Chen Zhengmin identified xiao as the shrike (bolao); Zong Lin claimed tuxiao is the myna. Each held a differing view. Through comprehensive verification and consultation with rural people, I conclude that you, xiao, chou, and xunhu are one and the same species. Xiuliu is a separate species. The description of xunhu provided by Zang Qi actually refers to xiuliu. You is what is commonly called 'xinghu' today, found occasionally in forests and mountains everywhere. It is beautiful when young but ugly when old. Its shape resembles a hen, with mottled patterns, a head like a myna, and eyes like a cat's. It names itself and loves eating mulberries. Ancients ate it frequently; thus, the *Book of Rites* states, 'Do not eat you pang,' referring to the thin flesh on the side ribs. The *Zhuangzi* says, 'Seeing a pellet, seek roasted you meat.' The *Former Liang Record* states: Zhang Tianxi said, 'Northern delicacies include sweet and fragrant mulberries and chicken-you skin banquets.' All refer to this bird. According to the *Ba-Shu Yiwuzhi*: 'You resembles a chick, has patterned body colors, and locals name it accordingly.' It cannot fly far and walks within limited areas. Sheng Hongzhi's *Records of Jingzhou* mentions: 'In Wuxian County, there is a bird like a female hen, named you. Chu people call it you.' Lu Ji's *Commentary on the Classic of Poetry* states: 'You is as large as a yellow finch, suitable for making soup or roasting.' Liu Xun's *Lingbiao Luyi* notes: 'In the north, xiao cries are considered strange. In the south, they fly and cry day and night, indistinguishable from crows and magpies. People in Guilin capture them with nets to hunt mice, considering them superior to wildcats.' Synthesizing these accounts, it is clear that you, chou, and xunhu are the same species. Furthermore, Guo Yigong's *Guangzhi* states: 'You is born from the Chu dove and cannot incubate or nurse, similar to a mule (sterile).' However, since the xiao eats its mother upon maturity, it implies self-reproduction; perhaps what it eats is the dove? The *Huainan Wanbi Shu* states: 'Throwing steamer tiles can stop the xiao's crying. This is due to natural antagonism.'"

**[Properties and Flavor]** Sweet, warm, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Treats rat fistula (lymphatic tuberculosis/scrofula); roast and consume (Zang Qi).

**[Attached Prescriptions]** Two new prescriptions.

Wind Epilepsy: Refer to Volume 9 of *Baojian*, named Shenyang Dan. Xingshen San (from *Yifang Dacheng*, lower volume).

Dysphagia (Choking food): Take one pair of featherless you birds, seal firmly with yellow clay, calcine to preserve nature, and grind into powder. Take one spoonful per dose, administered with warm wine (from *Shouyu Shenfang*).

Head

**[Indications]** Treats black depression of smallpox lesions. Use one or two pieces collected in the twelfth lunar month, burn to ash, and take with wine; recovery is expected (Li Shizhen. From Yun Qizi's *Baoming Ji*).

Eye

**[Indications]** Swallow whole, enabling one to see ghosts and spirits at night (Zang Qi).