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The rhinoceros resembles an ox. Its tongue has spines. It likes to eat thorny branches. It is produced in regions such as Xifan, Nanfan, Diannan, and Jiaozhou. There are three types: Shanxi (Mountain Rhinoceros) (lives in mountains and forests, easy to obtain), Shuixi (Water Rhinoceros) (enters and exits water, hardest to obtain, and has two horns, with a long nasal horn and a short frontal horn), and Sixi (also written as "Ge", i.e., Sha Rhinoceros/Sand Rhinoceros) (has only one horn on the top of its head, known as the Monoceros; its texture is fine, with distinct black and white patterns, excellent for making vessels but unsuitable for medicinal use). There is also Maoxi (Hairy Rhinoceros), which resembles them (i.e., Bos gaurus/Mithun).

It tastes bitter, sour, and salty. Its nature is dispersing and moving. Its qi is cold. It can ascend and descend, belonging to Yin within Yang. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. (Shengma acts as its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Aconitum carmichaelii root lateral preparation (Wutou) and Aconitum carmichaelii root lateral preparation (Wuhui).) It clears the stomach and resolves toxicity, drains Liver fire, cools the Heart, treats various toxins, expels malignant Qi and poison, resolves epidemic cold-heat and various toxic vapors. It calms the Spirit, treats pestilential diseases where heat burns like fire, irritant toxin entering the Heart causing delirious speech and madness. It governs wind-toxin attacking the Heart causing heat and stifling sensation, stroke with loss of voice. It treats hematemesis and epistaxis. It treats Taiyang disease blood accumulation. (For upper jiao blood accumulation, use Xijiao Dihuang Tang.) It also treats mania, macules, and jaundice. It treats pediatric wind-heat convulsions and epilepsy, as well as dense carbuncles and rashes, internal heat with black depression or failure to form scabs. It can also resolve pus and blood from carbuncles, sores, and ulcers. Medical texts use this substance to treat sudden syncope, poisoning by gu, cough with various bleeding manifestations, phlegm-fluid retention, wasting-thirst, diseases of the nose, ears, lips, tongue, and face, twitching, spasms, bi-syndrome with wandering pain, bi-syndrome with fixed pain, headache, vertigo, stranguria, and hematuria, dysentery, and beriberi.

The rhinoceros belongs to southern beasts, seemingly receiving the proper command of Fire transformation. When drinking, it muddies the water, symbolizing purification; when eating, it consumes toxic thorns, symbolizing digestion. Hence it is called "Xili" (Sharp/Resolving). (Zhi Yi states:) For pediatric convulsions and epilepsy with unconsciousness, tongue-biting, and eyes rolling upward, consuming thickly ground Rhinoceri Cornu yields immediate results. For dense smallpox, regardless of adult or child, use freshly drawn water to grind raw Rhinoceri Cornu in a rough vessel, and drink the thick juice after chilling. Combined with Cinnabar (Dansha), Amber (Hupo), Gold Leaf (Jinbo), Tianshu Huang, Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gouteng), Bovis Calculus (Niuhuang), Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao), Pearl (Zhenzhu), and Moschus (Shexiang), it treats wind-heat convulsions and epilepsy in adults and children. Ground into juice and combined with Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Carthami Flos (Honghua), Oenotherae Semen (Honghuaziren), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Arnebiae Radix seu Lithospermi Radix (Zicao), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), and Taraxaci Herba (Niubangzi), it treats smallpox with blood-heat, showing red spots, high fever, restlessness, thirst, and delirium; taking more ensures safety. Ground into juice and combined with Curcumae Radix (Yujin), Child's Urine (Tongbian), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), Perillae Fructus (Suzi), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Danshen), and Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Baiyaoshi), it treats hematemesis and epistaxis. Included in Zixue Powder, it treats mania and epilepsy in adults and children, plague, gu-poisoning, evil spirits, and all disorders caused by irritant heat. Included in Baolong Pill, it treats pediatric trance, palpitations, and phlegm-fluid obstruction. Included in Zhibao Dan, it treats stroke with inability to speak, suffocation due to malignant Qi, all conditions of spiritual trance and madness, and bloody diarrhea. Rhinoceri Cornu, Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu), and Chrysanthemi Indici Flos (Yinhua) each 1 liang, Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) 5 qian, are powdered and made into pills the size of beans with refined honey. Take one pill per dose, decoct in 1 sheng of water until 0.5 sheng remains, strain, and take warm. This is because heat-toxin lies hidden in the Heart Meridian. It is advisable to add Cinnabar powder and Talcum (Huashi), and decoct the medicine with decoction of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos et Caulis (Jinyinhua Teng). This is even more effective. For epistaxis, grind Rhinoceri Cornu into juice, combine with Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao), and Moutan Cortex (Danpi), decoct in water, and take. If heat is excessive, add Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin). If the pulse is large and slow to return, and the abdomen feels full though not distended, there is no heat; do not use Huangqin. Hematuria also uses the above formula, but taken on an empty stomach. (The Heart system connects to the Lung, and the Small Intestine is the Interior-Exterior partner of the Heart, governing water transformation; thus, both conditions can be treated with the same formula.)

[Discussion] The rhinoceros ingests hundred toxins and eats various thorns. Any toxin entering this beast's stomach is completely resolved. Its horn belongs to Yang, and its nature is dispersing. Jiegu stated it is Yin within Yang. Generally, it enters the Stomach to effect the function of the Heart. (This is evident from its ability to cool the Heart, resolve heat, treat irritant toxin, and cure delirium and madness.) The Heart is the Supreme Yang within Yang, and also the Hand-Shaoyin Meridian, because it houses Water within Fire. This substance belongs to Yang but has Cold qi. Cold within Yang transforms at the extreme of Yang into Cold. Its sour and bitter actions induce vomiting and purging, differing from the descending and suppressing action of bitter-cold herbs. Thus, its ability to disperse Qi-toxin lies here, and its ability to disperse Fire-knots also lies here. (The Heart itself does not accept pathogenic factors; those that accept pathogens are the Pericardium. The Pericardium is closely connected to the Stomach opening. Only Rhinoceri Cornu can disperse heat-toxin in the Pericardium, hence it treats various blood disorders, as the Pericardium governs Blood.) Therefore, it can also treat stroke. Wind and Fire both belong to Yang, and the Heart is the master of Fire. Wind chases the flame; when Fire disperses, Wind naturally calms. Moreover, the connections of the Liver and Spleen are linked to the Heart. Thus, medical texts use this substance, mostly treating stroke syndromes. (These present as trance, stifling confusion, drowsiness, irritability, inability to speak, slurred speech, delirious errors, inversion, stiff tongue, and loss of voice.) Wind is governed by the Liver, and transmission between mother and son occurs without delay. Furthermore, Wind and Fire fan each other, resembling heat-toxin. Without a substance belonging to Yin within Yang like this one, it cannot quietly subdue the main organ affected by disease. Observing that its secondary treatment for wind is treatment for fright, is the principle not even more obvious? Only for those with Blood deficiency and Fire is it most suitable to administer cautiously. (Therefore, pregnant women taking it in excess damages fetal Qi.) Generally, for excess Fire desiring emptiness, it is suitable; for empty Fire desiring fullness, it should still be avoided.

For smallpox cases with Qi deficiency and no high heat, it should not be used. (Zhong Chun) Or if caused by Blood deficiency with dry-heat, using it brings disaster. (Danxi) For cold syndrome in Shanghan presenting with restlessness, do not mistakenly use it. Pregnant women taking it in excess can dissipate fetal Qi. (Zhong Chun)

[Differentiation and Treatment] Patterns resembling fish roe are called "Suwen" (Millet Pattern). Patterns with eyes within the millet are called "Suyan". Black background with yellow flowers is "Zhengtou" (Correct Transparency); yellow background with black flowers is "Daotou" (Reverse Transparency); flowers containing flowers are "Chongtou" (Double Transparency). All are named Tongxi, which is the superior grade. Patterns like pepper bean spots are next best. Wuxi (Black Rhinoceros) pure black without flowers is inferior. (Binhu) Those not processed by boiling or fire are called Shengxi (Raw Rhinoceros), which are usable. The horn tip is especially potent. Wrapped in paper and placed in the chest for one night, it becomes easy to grind. (Renqi Fenxi - Human Qi Powdered Rhinoceros) For pills and powders, it is ground into dust. For ordinary decoctions, it is ground into juice and taken mixed.