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Fu Yi (Bat)

Salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats dim vision (myopia/blurred vision), itching and pain of the eyes; cures strangury (lin syndrome) and promotes urination; brightens the eyes, allowing clear night vision with spiritual luster. Long-term consumption brings joy and happiness, enhances beauty, and eliminates worry. Also known as Bian Fu (Bat). Grows in the valleys of Mount Tai and in the eaves of human dwellings. Harvested after the Start of Summer, dried in the shade. Amaranthus Fruit (Xian Shi) and Clianthus Fruit (Yun Shi) serve as guiding herbs.

Tao Hongjing stated: The eyes and gallbladder of Fu Yi are used by alchemists for the method of "tunnel vision" (the ability to see through objects). Unless they are white bats hanging upside down, they should not be consumed. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: "Fu Yi" is named so because it hides during the day yet has wings. Li's *Bencao* states: It is the same as Tian Shu (Heavenly Mouse). It further states: There is another Tian Shu in the mountains of Xiping, harvested in the eleventh and twelfth lunar months. It primarily treats residual ailments after childbirth in women, leukorrhea, and infertility. *Fangyan* states: It is also called Xian Shu (Immortal Mouse), which lives in mountain holes feeding on the essence of various lithic stones, living for a thousand years. It has a crest on its head, pure white in color, and is as large as a turtledove or magpie. Consuming it makes one fat, strong, and long-lived. Those as small as quails that have not turned white are already a hundred years old, and all hang upside down. Their feces in the stone holes are white, resembling rat droppings. The Tian Shu feces mentioned in the following section should use this type. Powdered from its feces, taken with wine in a dose of one cubic inch, treats fetal death in the womb. Its brain treats facial melasma in women; consumption prevents forgetfulness.

Currently examining Chen Cangqi's *Bencao*: Fu Yi treats mosquitoes. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, harvest those hanging upside down, dry them, mix with Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) and Frankincense (Xun Lu Xiang), grind into powder, and burn it to repel mosquitoes. Apply its blood to the eyes to induce insomnia and enable night vision. (Moved from the Insects and Fish category to this category). Ministers Yu Xi et al. respectfully note according to *Yaoxing Lun*: Fu Yi is slightly hot and toxic. Consumption treats the five types of strangury. Ri Huazi stated: Bat, long-term consumption relieves sorrow. Its feces are named Ye Ming Sha (Night-Bright Sand); roasted and taken, it treats scrofula (luo li).

*Tujing* states: Fu Yi is the bat. Produced in the valleys of Mount Tai and in the eaves of houses. Harvested after the Start of Summer, dried in the shade for use. Tian Shu feces are the feces of Fu Yi. Produced in the valleys of Hepu. Harvested in the tenth and twelfth lunar months. Su Gong cites *Fangyan*: Fu Yi is also called Xian Shu, thus knowing they are one entity. It further states: Xian Shu lives in mountain holes, feeding on the essence of various lithic stones, living for a thousand years, with a crest on its head, pure white, as large as a turtledove or magpie. Those as small as quails that have not turned white are already a hundred years old, and all hang upside down in the stone milk. This is what the *Xian Jing* refers to as Rou Zhi (Meat Mushroom). Their feces are all white, resembling rat droppings. For medicinal use, this type should be employed. However, current bats mostly live in old houses; white and large ones are rare. Feces can also be white; presumably, those produced from lithic sources and growing in mountains should be like this. *Xu Chuanxin Fang* treats unbearable pain from horse kick injuries: Use three or two pieces of Xian Shu feces, finely ground, mixed with one sheng of hot wine, take the clear wine, and pain stops immediately; after three or two doses, recovery occurs.

Lei Gong said: When using, only those weighing one jin should be harvested. Each processing procedure involves wiping off the hair on the flesh, removing claws and intestines, while keeping the wings, flesh, feet, and beak. Then soak in wine overnight, drain, apply natural juice of Polygonatum (Huang Jing), roast until dry before use. Each processing unit weighs one jin, using five liang of natural Huang Jing juice as the standard. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats infants over ten months old whose mothers are pregnant again, causing the child's spirit to be unclear and body to wither, termed "Du" disease. Burn Fu Yi to ash, finely grind. Mix with rice gruel drink, take half a qian, four to five times daily; effective. If roasted until fragrant, chew thoroughly and feed to the infant; also effective. *Baiyi Fang*: Treats chronic cough with rebellious qi lasting ten or twenty years, refractory to other medicines: Remove wings and feet from the bat, roast until charred and powdered, take with water. *Guiyi Fang*: Treats traumatic wounds with bleeding and internal sinking. Two bats, burned until smokeless and powdered, mixed with water, take one cubic inch, finish within one day; expect watery stool discharge.

*Yanyi* states: Fu Yi feces are combined in medicines for gan accumulation (pediatric malnutrition). It can fly during the day but fears birds of prey and dares not come out. This creature excels at fuqi (breathing exercises/qi swallowing), hence its longevity. It does not eat in winter, which verifies this.