Library

Li Shizhen stated: In ancient times, people had no grain food and consumed raw meat and blood. When Shennong (Divine Farmer) emerged, he began tasting herbs to distinguish grains, teaching people agriculture; he also tasted herbs to identify medicines, using them to save people from diseases and premature death. When Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) emerged, he taught people cooking and formulated prescriptions, after which people could begin to follow the way of health preservation. The *Rites of Zhou* mentions names such as five grains, six grains, and nine grains; poets have sung of eight grains and a hundred grains. The categories of grains can be said to be numerous. The *Suwen* states: "The five grains serve as nourishment." Hemp, wheat, millet, glutinous millet, and beans correspond to the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, respectively. The Official in Charge of Works distinguishes the grains of the Nine Provinces, and the Official of Land distinguishes soil suitability for planting, thereby teaching sowing and harvesting; all these measures are intended to emphasize the importance of food for the people. The qi of the five directions and the products of the nine provinces vary in nature among the hundred grains. How can one consume them daily without knowing their flavors and their beneficial or harmful effects on the body? Therefore, I collected plant fruits that can be eaten as grain for the section on Grains, totaling seventy-three species, divided into four categories: Hemp, Wheat, and Rice; Panicum and Foxtail Millet; Legumes and Beans; and Brewing ingredients. The old editions contained three grades totaling fifty-nine species in the Rice and Grain section. Now, nine species are added, one is moved to the Vegetable section, and one is transferred from the Herb section.

Seven species from *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang); Nineteen species from *Mingyi Bielu* (Annotated by Tao Hongjing); Three species from *Tang Bencao*; One species from *Xinxiu Bencao* (by Li Ji of Tang); Three species from *Shiliao Bencao* (by Meng Shen of Tang); Two species from *Kaibao Bencao* (by Ma Zhi of Song); Three species from *Jiayou Bencao* (by Zhang Yuxi of Song); Two species from *Tujing Bencao* (by Su Song of Song); One species from *Riyong Bencao* (by Wu Rui of Yuan); One species from *Bencao Yiwei* (by Zhu Zhenheng of Yuan); One species from *Jiu Huang Bencao* (by Prince Ding of Zhou of Ming); One species from *Shijian Bencao* (by Ning Yuan of Ming); Three species from *Shiwu Bencao* (by Wang Ying of Ming); Fifteen new species added in *Bencao Gangmu* (by Li Shizhen of Ming).

[Appendix Notes] *Yaolu* by Li Dangzhi of Wei; *Bencao* by Wu Pu; *Paozhi* by Lei Xiao of Song; *Yaodui* by Xu Zhicai of Qi; *Shanfan* by Yang Sunzhi of Tang; *Sisheng Bencao* by Xiao Bing; *Qianjin Fang* by Sun Simiao; *Shixing Bencao* by Chen Shiliang of Southern Tang; *Chongzhu Bencao* by Han Baosheng of Shu; *Yanyi* by Kou Zongshi of Song; *Zhenzhunang* by Zhang Yuansu of Jin; *Faxiang* (referring to *Yixue Fabiang*) by Li Gao of Yuan; *Tangye Bencao* by Wang Haogu; *Jiyao Fang* by Wang Lun of Ming; *Huibian* by Wang Ji; *Bencao Mengquan* by Chen Jiamo.