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Chrysanthemum, possessing the central yellow color and a mild, upright fragrance, has flowers, leaves, roots, and fruits that are all longevity-promoting medicines. In the north, blooming times vary with the onset of autumn; generally, chrysanthemums bloom only after a light frost appears. This is not the case in Lingnan, where they flourish abundantly only around the Winter Solstice. Due to the warm climate of Lingnan, various herbs bloom at irregular intervals, whereas chrysanthemums bloom late. Investigating the principle, chrysanthemums possess a distinct, independent nature, not following the rise and fall of other herbs, requiring frost descent to sprout and bloom. The reason lies in the fact that Lingnan and Hai regions often experience light frost during the Winter Solstice. Its natural demeanor is so noble and pure, fitting for its association with immortal spirits. While residing in Nanhai, I cultivated nine wan (a unit of area) of chrysanthemums. On the night of the 15th day of the 11th lunar month, I boated with guests, made chrysanthemum wine, and celebrated the Double Ninth Festival. I write this as a record.

I was exiled to Hainan and traveled overland from Tengzhou in May. From Tengzhou to Danzhou, wild flowers lined the path. They resembled Paeonia lactiflora (Peony) but were smaller, with bright red colors that were lovely, growing densely in clusters. Locals called them "Daonanzihua" (Inverted Adhesion Flower). Upon reaching Danzhou, they had already set fruit, resembling horse milk. The fruit was purple-red and edible, with a sweet and pleasant taste. It contained small seeds; when chewed together, it produced a rustling sound and was somewhat bitter and astringent. Children who ate it sometimes suffered from constipation. The leaves were white, resembling the appearance of Pyrrhospora foliosa (Shiwei). When local people suffered from dysentery and diarrhea in summer and autumn, eating these leaves would cure them. Extracting its gum to substitute for persimmon lacquer yielded similar results. I had long suffered from turbid white urine, and recently also experienced loose stools that did not stop despite taking various medicines. I took the tender leaves of Daonanzi, steamed them with wine, dried them by baking, ground them into powder, and formed pills using a wine paste. After swallowing more than one hundred pills, both urination and defecation returned to normal. Only then did I realize it was a miraculous medicine. Therefore, I named it "Haiqi" (Sea Lacquer). I recorded this privately to offer to gentlemen interested in such matters. Next year, when the seeds ripen, I will take them, grind, filter, dry, and boil them into an ointment for medicinal use, no longer relying on paste. Recorded on November 1st, in the year Wuyin.

Hainan produces Yi Zhi Hua (Alpinia oxyphylla flower), whose fruits are long spikes divided into three sections. Whether the fruits mature can predict whether the year will be abundant or poor. The lower section predicts the harvest of early rice, while the middle and upper sections do likewise. In years of great auspiciousness, the fruits are full; in years of misfortune, they are empty. It is rare for all three sections to mature simultaneously. As a medicine, it treats water retention but does not benefit wisdom. Can wisdom be sought through medicine? Did it get the name "Yi Zhi" (Benefiting Wisdom) because it knows the year's fortune? Today, I heard Li Ziyun, a Confucian scholar from Dan'er, describe the observation in detail. I briefly record this, to...