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味苦、酸，平，无毒。主益气，充肌肤，明目，聪慧先知。久服不饥，不老，轻身。生
少室山谷。八月、九月采实，日干。
唐本注云∶此草所在有之，以其茎为筮。陶误用楮实为之。《本经》云味苦，楮实味甘，
其
楮实移在木部也。
图经曰∶蓍实，生少室山谷，今蔡州上蔡县白龟祠旁，其生如蒿作丛，高五、六尺，一
本一
、
二十茎，至多者三、五十茎，生便条直，所以异于众蒿也。秋后有花出于枝端，红紫色，形
如菊，八月、九月采其实，日干入药。今医家亦稀用。其茎为筮，以问鬼神知吉凶，故圣人
赞之，谓之神物。《史记·龟策传》曰∶龟千岁，乃游于莲叶之上，蓍百茎共一根，又其
所生，兽无虎野狼，虫无毒螫。徐广注曰∶刘向云龟千岁而灵，蓍百年而一本生百茎。又褚先
生云∶蓍生满百茎者，其下必有神龟守之，其上常有青云覆之。传曰∶天下和平，王道得而
着茎长丈，其丛生满百茎。方今世取蓍者，不能中古法度，不能得满百茎长丈者，取八十茎
以上，蓍长八尺即难得也。民众好用卦者取满六十茎以上，长满六尺者，即可用矣。今蔡州
所上者，皆不言如此。然则此类，其神物乎，故不常有也。
味苦，平，主胸中结，益心气，补中，增智能，不忘。久食轻身不老，延年神仙。一
名丹芝。生霍山。
陶隐居云∶南岳本是衡山，汉武帝始以小霍山代之，非正也。此则应生衡山也。
英公云∶安心神。
Shi Shi (Rhizoma et Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae / Achyranthes Fruit)
Taste: bitter, sour. Nature: neutral. Toxicity: non-toxic. Actions: primarily tonifies Qi, fills the flesh and skin, brightens the eyes, enhances wisdom, and provides precognitive abilities. Long-term consumption prevents hunger, delays aging, and lightens the body. Habitat: grows in the valleys of Mount Shaoshi. Harvest time: fruits are collected in the eighth and ninth lunar months and dried in the sun.
Note from the Tang Dynasty *Xinxiu Bencao* (Newly Revised Materia Medica): This herb is found everywhere; its stem is used as a divining rod (Shi). Tao Hongjing mistakenly used *Broussonetia papyrifera* fruit (Chushi) to replace it. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that Shishi tastes bitter, whereas Chushi tastes sweet; therefore, Chushi was classified under the Wood category.
*Tujing* (Illustrated Classic) states: Shishi grows in the valleys of Mount Shaoshi. It is currently also found near the White Turtle Shrine in Shangcai County, Caizhou. Its growth resembles mugwort, forming clumps, standing five or six chi tall. Each plant has twenty stems, with some having up to thirty or fifty stems. The stems grow straight, distinguishing them from other mugworts. After autumn, flowers appear at the branch tips, red-purple in color, resembling chrysanthemums. Fruits are collected in the eighth and ninth lunar months and dried for medicinal use. Physicians nowadays rarely use it. Its stem serves as a divining rod for asking spirits about fortune and misfortune, hence sages praised it as a divine object. The *Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Tortoise Diviners* states: "A tortoise lives a thousand years before it wanders on lotus leaves; one hundred stems of Shishi share a single root." Furthermore, where it grows, there are no tigers, wild wolves, or venomous stinging insects. Xu Guang’s annotation cites Liu Xiang: "A tortoise lives a thousand years and possesses spiritual power; Shishi takes a hundred years to produce one plant with a hundred stems." Mr. Chu added: "Where Shishi grows to a hundred stems, a divine tortoise guards beneath it, and blue clouds often cover it above." Legends say: "When the world is peaceful and the Kingly Way prevails, the main stem grows to one zhang, with a hundred stems growing in clusters." Currently, people selecting Shishi cannot follow ancient standards and fail to obtain those with a hundred stems and one zhang length; obtaining eighty stems and eight chi in length is already rare. Commoners using divination select those with sixty stems and six chi in length, which are usable. The Shishi submitted from Caizhou today does not match these descriptions. Thus, this type of Shishi is likely a divine object and therefore uncommon.
Chi Zhi (Red Ganoderma)
Taste: bitter. Nature: neutral. Actions: primarily resolves chest congestion, benefits Heart Qi, tonifies the Middle Jiao, increases intelligence, and prevents forgetfulness. Long-term consumption lightens the body, delays aging, and extends life like an immortal. Alias: Dan Zhi. Habitat: grows on Mount Huo.
Tao Hongjing stated: The Southern Mountain originally referred to Mount Heng. Emperor Wu of Han began substituting it with Little Mount Huo, which is incorrect. Chi Zhi should grow on Mount Heng.
Ying Gong (Li Ji) stated: Calms the Spirit (Shen).