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Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust)

The flavor is sweet, the nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It primarily treats clearing heat from the stomach, wheezing, restlessness, and can stop thirst. When taken as dust ground to the size of hemp seeds or beans, long-term consumption makes the body light and prolongs life.

It grows in Lantian. There is no fixed time for collection. (Avoid using with Cervi Cornu.)

Tao Hongjing said: What is referred to here as Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) is also grinding jade into dust; it is not a different substance. The *Xian Jing* (Classic of Immortals) records: To consume jade, some crush it like rice grains, then dissolve it with vinegar-like substances until it becomes mud; there are also methods to mix it into a paste. Whenever consuming jade, one must not use already-made artifacts nor jade roughs from tombs. High-quality jade comes from Lantian and the Xu Shanting area of Nanyang, as well as from Rinan, Lucong waters, and foreign lands such as Khotan and Shule. These are all excellent. The *Xian Fang* (Immortal Prescriptions) names jade "Xuan Zhen" (Mysterious Truth), which is white and clean like lard; those that ring when struck are true jade. There are many similar-looking stones, so one must distinguish them carefully. This is why Yan stone was put in the bamboo box, causing Bian He to wail for a long time. The *Tang Ben Zhu* (Tang Commentary) states: For consuming jade, dissolving it into water is best. Taking dust ground to the size of hemp seeds allows one to obtain its essence to moisten the zang-fu organs, while the dregs should be excreted completely. If taken as powder, it causes strangury and obstruction. Grinding the dust to the size of hemp seeds has profound meaning. Minister Yuxi et al. cautiously note according to *Baopuzi*: Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust), when taken with water, is feared to make people immortal. It is inferior to gold (referring to golden elixirs) because it causes frequent fever, resembling the symptoms of Hanshi San (Cold Food Powder). If taking Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust), it is suitable to take it once every ten days, combined with Realgar (Realgar) and Cinnabar (Cinnabar) each measuring one Dao Gui (a small unit of weight), with hair loose, washing with cold water, and walking facing the wind, so as not to get a fever. Ri Hua Zi said: Jade moistens the Heart and Lungs, brightens the eyes, nourishes hair, and assists the voice and throat.

The *Tu Jing* (Illustrated Canon) states: Jade, according to the *Ben Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Yu Quan (Jade Spring) grows in the valleys of Lantian, and Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) grows in Lantian. Tao Hongjing annotated: Good jade comes from Lantian and Nanyang Xurong waters; foreign lands like Khotan and Shule also produce good jade; nowadays, Lantian, Nanyang, and Rinan are no longer heard of producing jade; ritual vessels and imperial carriages and attire mostly use jade from Khotan. Ping Juhui, Defense Judge of Jinzhou during the Jin Dynasty, served as Zhang Ye (originally named with two characters, the first character offending the ancestral temple taboo of Emperor Taizu) on an embassy to Khotan during the Tianfu era. After returning, the judge wrote *Xing Cheng Ji* (Record of Travel), recording the places where jade was mined in that country: First is Yu He (Jade River), located thirty li east of Khotan city; second is Lü Yu He (Green Jade River), twenty li west of the city; third is Wu Yu He (Black Jade River), seven li west of the Green Jade River. Although their sources are the same, the jade changes according to the terrain, hence the colors differ. Every year in May and June, when floodwaters surge, jade arrives with the flow. The quantity of jade depends on the volume of water. In July and August, when the water recedes, it can be collected; locals call this "fishing for jade." The law of that country forbids people from going to the riverbank before officials mine jade, so utensils, clothing, and ornaments in that country often use jade. What China possesses now mostly comes from there. Tao Hongjing said: Yu Quan (Jade Spring) is the essence of jade; white ones have clear and transparent texture, can be dissolved into water, hence named Yu Quan (Jade Spring). People nowadays no longer recognize them accurately, only generally calling them jade. Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) is jade ground into dust, not another object. The *Xian Jing* (Classic of Immortals) mentions consuming jade, crushing it like rice grains, then dissolving with vinegar-like substances into mud, or mixing into paste. Su Gong said: Yu Quan (Jade Spring) is the fluid of jade, with that from immortal chambers' ponds being superior. Those converted into jade paste by methods are inferior to natural spring fluids. Consuming jade is best when dissolved into water. Taking dust ground to the size of hemp seeds obtains its essence to moisten the zang-fu organs, while dregs should be excreted completely. If taken as powder, it causes strangury and obstruction. The *Zhou Li* (Rites of Zhou) Yu Fu (Office of Jade) records: When the King fasts, he supplies edible jade. Zheng Kangcheng annotated: Jade is pure yang essence; eating it repels dampness; the King should eat Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) when fasting. The *Zheng Yi* (Righteous Meaning) states: Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) must be ground before eating, yet nowadays Yu Quan (Jade Spring) truly does not exist. Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) is rarely used in medical prescriptions. During the Xiangfu era, the late Emperor ordered artisans to crush jade into rice-bean sizes, making them according to Tao and Su's theories, but it was not heard of being used for meals or consumption. Saying it must be ground to eat suggests it might not benefit people; indeed, it should not be lightly consumed. In prescription books, facial pastes sometimes use Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust); this is likely ground into powder for use. Since it is not ingested, it does no harm. Books record jade colors: red like chicken comb, yellow like steamed chestnut, white like cut fat, black like pure lacquer, called Yu Fu (Jade Symbols), while green jade has no description. Its texture is warm, moist, and lustrous, its sound clear and prolonged, hence it is precious. Nowadays, among five-colored jade, white and green are common, black appears occasionally, yellow and red are extremely rare; even the six ritual vessels cannot obtain true jade. Now, Yizhou produces a kind of stone, colored like steamed chestnuts, locally called Li Yu (Chestnut Jade), or said to be a type of Huang Yu (Yellow Jade), but less lustrous and its sound is not clear/prolonged, thus inferior. However, consuming or eating jade values pure white above all; other colors are not taken.

Hai Yao Ben Cao (Sea Medicinal Materia Medica) says: According to *Yi Wu Zhi* (Record of Strange Things): It comes from Kunlun. Also *Huainanzi* says: It comes from Zhong Mountain. Also says: Lantian produces beautiful jade, Yankou produces Bi Yu (Wall Jade), flavor salty, nature cold, non-toxic. It treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), nourishes the five zang-organs, stops irritability. It is suitable to decoct together with Gold, Silver, and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦门冬), etc., which is very beneficial. The *Xian Jing* (Classic of Immortals) says: The method of consuming jade like melting water is recorded in the Thirty-Six Water Methods of *Huainanzi*. Also *Bie Bao Jing* (Scripture of Distinct Treasures) says: Generally, stones containing jade, if viewed against a lamp at night, show red light inside, bright as the rising sun, indicating jade within. Chu records Bian He offering jade three times, suffering amputation due to lack of appraisal; later an expert verified it by lamp-light, realizing the jade was inside the stone, then carved into a jade seal, worth cities connected. Li Yu often envied the ancients' method of dining on jade, so he visited Lantian, personally dug up over a hundred pieces resembling rings,璧 (bi discs), and miscellaneous vessels, slightly coarse and black, all lustrous and playable. Li Yu crushed seventy pieces into dust, eating them daily. After a year, he claimed efficacy, but worldly affairs ceased, and he did not restrict himself. Adding good wine damaged his willpower. When critically ill, he told his wife and children: Consuming jade requires living secluded in mountains, abandoning desires, perhaps gaining great divine power; but I indulged in wine and women, causing my own death, not the medicine's fault. Xunyi, Chang'an was hot; Li Yu's corpse remained unchanged after four nights. His wife Chang placed two jade beads in his mouth, closing it as instructed; his mouth had no foul odor. *Bao Zang Lun* (Treasure Storehouse Discourse): True Xuan Zhen (Mysterious Truth) of jade, when consumed, grants boundless life, making the whole body light and flying, not just becoming a Di Xian (Earthly Immortal). However, this path takes time; consuming one or two hundred jin reveals the effect. Jade can be dissolved into water using Wumi Wine (Black Rice Wine) and Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu, 地榆) wine, or dissolved into paste with Scallium Juice, or made into pills, or burned into powder and taken. After more than a year, entering water does not wet it. Wang Mang gave Kong Xiu jade, which Kong refused. Wang Mang said: Your face has blemishes; fine jade can remove scars. Kong still refused. Wang Mang said: You dislike the price, so I smashed it and offered it to you. Kong then accepted. Qingxia Zi: One sheng of Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust), one sheng of Sanguisorbae Radix (Diyu, 地榆), one to two sheng of Oryza Sativa (Daomi, 稻米), boiled in a copper vessel until rice is cooked, strained to extract juice. Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) turns into water, named Yu Ye (Jade Fluid). Mixing medicine into beautiful wine in a cup, this is called Shen Xian Yu Jiang (Immortal Jade Paste). *Tianbao Yishi* (Secrets of Tianbao): Tang Guifei held jade in her mouth and swallowed saliva to relieve lung thirst. *Ye Tianshi Zhenzhong Ji* (Master Ye's Pillow Record): Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust), flavor sweet, nature harmonious, non-toxic. Dust size of hemp seeds; long-term consumption makes the body light and extends longevity. Avoid using with Cervi Cornu. *Ma Ming Xian Sheng Jin Dan Jue* (Master Ma Ming's Golden Elixir Secrets): Regular consumption of Yu Xie (Nephrite Dust) keeps the spirit calm and orderly.