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(Jiangmu)

[Names] Li Shizhen states: According to Ren Fang's *Shuyi Ji* (Records of Strange Tales), the Jiao (Flood Dragon) belongs to the dragon category. Those with wings are called Yinglong (Soaring Dragons); those with horns are called Qionglong (Horned Dragons); and those without horns are called Chilong (Hornless Dragons).

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen states: According to Pei Yuan's *Guangzhou Ji* (Records of Guangzhou), the Jiao is over one zhang long, resembling a snake but having four feet, with a white collar around its neck and a chest colored ochre-red. It can fly; if it consumes a soft-shelled turtle, it can avoid disaster. Wang Zi Nian's *Shiyi Lu* (Record of Gleanings) records: Emperor Zhao of Han fished in the Wei River and caught a white Jiao resembling a snake, with teeth protruding from its lips. He ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare it as a soup, which was very delicious; the bones were green and the meat purple. Based on this, the Jiao is edible.

[Flavor and Toxicity] Information missing. Toxic.

Li Shizhen states: According to Zhang Zhongjing's *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), during spring and summer, the Jiao releases its essence into water celery. If humans consume it, they suffer from "Dragon Syndrome," characterized by unbearable pain. Treatment involves consuming hard sugar, two to three sheng per day, which should cause the expulsion of an object resembling a lizard. The Tang dynasty physician Zhou Pu treated this condition by administering boiled Puxiao (Mirabilite) to expel the pathogen.

[Therapeutic Actions] Applied to the face to improve complexion. Also treats difficult childbirth (Li Shizhen, citing *Dongfang Shuo Biezhuan*).

[Appendix] Shen (Clam/Mirage Dragon). Pronunciation similar to "Ren".

Li Shizhen states: Among the Jiao category is the Shen. Its shape resembles a large snake with dragon-like horns and red mane hairs. The scales below the waist grow in reverse direction. It eats swallows. It can exhale air to form shapes resembling towers and city walls. It appears just before rain, known as "Shenlou" (Mirage Tower) or "Haishi" (Sea Market). Its fat mixed with wax makes candles that emit fragrance for a hundred paces, with smoke forming tower-like shapes. The *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances) states: "Pheasants enter large waters and become Shens." Lu Tuan stated: Snakes mating with turtles produce Tuos (Alligator Lizards), while mating with pheasants produces Shens. This indicates different origins but identical spiritual resonance. Some argue this refers to the Shen. Lu Zhigang also mentioned ascending flight. Eggs are not buried in soil but transform... Luo Yuan believed them to be pheasant-transformed Shens; whether this is correct remains uncertain. See detailed discussion under the entry for Che'ao in the Shellfish section.

(Shennong Bencao Jing, Middle Grade)

[Names] Tuo Fish (from *Benjing*), Earth Dragon.

Meng Shen stated: The "Tuo Fish" in *Benjing* should be corrected to "Tuo". Since the Tuo belongs to the dragon category, the character "Fish" should be removed.

Li Shizhen states: The character "Tuo" is pictographic, depicting its head, belly, feet, and tail, hence the name. *Bowuzhi* (Records of Various Things) calls it the Earth Dragon. This is an animal designation. I now adopt Chen's correction.

[Collected Explanations]

*Mingyi Bielu* (Additional Records of Famous Physicians) states: Tuo shell is produced in the pools and marshes of the South Sea, collected at any time.

Tao Hongjing stated: This is the Tuo shell; its skin can be used to drum heads. It is extremely resilient to death; even if boiling water is poured into its mouth, it takes a long time to process after being placed in the abdomen.

Meng Shen stated: The Tuo loves sleep and often keeps its eyes closed. Its strength is immense, capable of attacking riverbanks. When people dig into its burrow, one hundred people must dig while one hundred others pull; if only one person digs, one must pull. Otherwise, it cannot be extracted.

Su Song stated: They are now very common in rivers and lakes. Their shape resembles geckos or pangolins, but they are one to two zhang long, with scales on their backs and tails. They roar at night, frightening boatmen.

Li Shizhen stated: Tuo burrows are extremely deep. Fishermen use bamboo cables baited with hooks to probe them. Once the Tuo bites, it is slowly drawn out. It can move horizontally but cannot ascend. Its sound resembles a drum, and its night cries correspond to the night watches. Hence called "Tuo Drum" or "Tuo Watch"; locals listen to predict rain. Its occipital bone is crystal clear, superior to fish bones. It lays many eggs, up to one hundred, and may even consume its own eggs. Southerners value its meat as a gift for weddings. Lu Tuan stated: The Tuo's body contains meat corresponding to all twelve Chinese zodiac animals, except the snake meat in the tail, which is most toxic.

Tuo Shell

[Preparation] Roasted with butter or prepared with wine.

[Flavor and Toxicity] Sour, slightly warm, toxic.

Li Quan stated: Sweet, neutral, slightly toxic.

*Rihua Bencao* stated: Non-toxic. Shuqi (Sophora flavescens root bark) acts as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Yuanhua (Kadsura flower), Gansui (Euphorbia kansui root), and dog gallbladder.

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats abdominal masses and accumulations, hard latent lumps, alternating chills and fever,牵引 pain in the lower abdomen and vagina of women, metrorrhagia with five-colored discharge, and necrotic skin lesions from sores and scabies (*Benjing*). Treats excessive tearing and frequent惊悸 caused by five pathogenic factors. Removes blood stasis in the abdomen, leukorrhea in women, wind sores, stubborn prurigo, and malignant ulcers. Used roasted and soaked in wine.

[Elucidation]

Li Shizhen states: The conditions treated by Tuo shell mostly belong to the Jueyin channel. Its efficacy lies in pacifying Liver Wood, treating blood stasis, and killing parasites. *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) uses it for wind-induced epilepsy...

[Attached Formulas] One old formula.

Intestinal Wind and Hemorrhoids: Su Song stated: Burn Tuo skin and bones to ash, take two qian with rice water on an empty stomach. For severe cases, mix with powdered Red Cockscomb Flower and Alum.

Meat

[Flavor and Toxicity] Sweet, slightly toxic.

Su Song stated: The meat resembles chicken but induces cold qi chronic diseases.

Meng Shen stated: Zhou Xingsi of the Liang dynasty loved eating this meat, but was later spat upon by a Tuo, resulting in malignant sores. This creature has spirituality; it is better not to eat it, as its saliva is highly toxic.

Tao Hongjing stated: The meat is highly nourishing, but consumption is unnecessary.

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats shortness of breath and weak respiration, inability to stand on feet (*Biellu*). Treats dampness, evil qi, various gu poisons, abdominal masses, and malignant ulcers (Meng Shen).

Fat

[Therapeutic Actions] Massaged to treat wind pathogens and malignant ulcers (Zhang Ding).

Liver

[Therapeutic Actions] Treats Wushi Disease (Five Corpse Diseases). Cook one liver thoroughly and eat it with minced garlic.