Library

[Compendium of Materia Medica]

[Nomenclature] Jiedie (Vane Butterfly, sound like "Ye")
Li Shizhen said: The vane butterfly is light and thin, flying with wings clamped together; this is its natural state. The butterfly's antennae are beautiful, the moth's eyebrows are beautiful, hence it is also called Hudie (Butterfly). In common parlance, the antennae are referred to as "Hu".

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen said: Butterflies belong to the moth category. Large ones are called butterflies, small ones are called moths. Their species are numerous, all having four wings covered with powder. They enjoy smelling floral fragrances, using their antennae instead of noses for olfaction. They mate nose-to-nose, and the powder fades after mating. *Gu Jin Zhu* states that citrus larvae transform into butterflies; *Er Ya Yi* states that Wu Zu leaves transform into butterflies; *Pi Ya* states that vegetables transform into butterflies; *Youyang Zazu* states that lily flowers transform into butterflies; *Buhu Lu* states that tree leaves transform into butterflies resembling paintings; *Yeshi* states that colorful skirts transform into butterflies. These are all based on individual observations. It seems they do not know that various wood-boring insects, upon reaching old age, all molt and transform into butterflies or moths, just as silkworms inevitably undergo metamorphosis into adults. Rotting clothes also inevitably breed insects that transform. The transformation of grass, trees, flowers, and leaves is due to Qi transformation and Wind transformation. Their colors depend on the flowers and leaves consumed by the insects and the color of the object from which they transform. Yang Shen in *Dan Qian Lu* stated: There are grass butterflies and water butterflies in the water. *Lingnan Yiwu Zhi* records: A person floating in the South Sea saw a vane butterfly as large as a palm-leaf sail, weighing eighty jin of meat, which tasted extremely rich and delicious.

[Flavor and Properties] Missing.

[Therapeutic Actions] Infantile rectal prolapse. Dry in the shade, grind into powder, mix with saliva, apply half a qian to the palm of the hand. Use until healed. (Li Shizhen)

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Ancient prescriptions rarely used butterflies. Only *Pu Ji Fang* records this prescription for treating rectal prolapse, also

(Mingyi Bie Lu, Lower Grade)

[Nomenclature] Qingting (Dragonfly, sound like "Ding"), Qingling (also written as Ting), (sound like "Xin"), Fulao (from *Er Ya*), (sound like "Cong"), Zhucheng (Tao Hongjing), Shayang (Gauze Sheep)
Li Shizhen said: "Qing" and refer to their greenish color. "Ling" and refer to their slender appearance. Some say their tails resemble the character "Ding". Others say their tails like to perch upright, hence called "" and "Ting". The common name is Shayang (Gauze Sheep), referring to their gauze-like wings. According to Cui Bao's *Gu Jin Zhu*: Large and blue ones are called Qingting; small and yellow ones are called Hulu in Jiangdong, Ming in Huainan, and Jiangji in Poyang; small and red ones are named Chizu, Jiangzou, and Chi, which remain unverified.

[Collected Explanations] Tao Hongjing said: There are five or six types of Qingling. Only the large-eyed blue type, named Zhucheng and commonly called Hulu, is used in medicine. Daoists claim its eyes can transform into green pearls. The others, yellow, fine, and black, are not used in medicine.
Su Baosheng said: They are found everywhere. They prefer flying near water, having six legs and four wings.
Su Song said: Among dragonflies, the largest one (called Matoudai by people in Bian) is this species. Its body is green. The female has a ring of emerald green around her waist.
Li Shizhen said: Qingling has a large head with exposed eyes, a short neck, long waist, and tail. It transforms from aquatic naiads (Shu Chai). Luo Yuan stated: Naiads transform into dragonflies; dragonflies still mate over water, attaching eggs to objects, which then become naiads again. Zhang Hua's *Bowu Zhi* also states: On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, burying a dragonfly's head indoors can transform it into a green pearl; whether this is true remains unknown. Ancient prescriptions only used large blue ones. Recently, sexual arts have also used red ones. Cui Bao said: In the Liaohai region, there are dark-blue insects resembling dragonflies but with a dark indigo color. In the sixth and seventh months, they fly in swarms obscuring the sky. Barbarians eat them, claiming they are transformed from green shrimp in the sea. *Yunnan Zhi* states: In places like Lan Cang and Puman, things like earth bees, dragonflies, and grasshoppers are all eaten without exception.

[Flavor and Properties] Slightly cold, non-toxic.

[Therapeutic Actions] Strengthen Yin, arrest seminal emission (*Mingyi Bie Lu*). Strengthen Yang, warm the Water Organ (Kidney)