MUSHROOMS

MUSHROOMS.—A class name for these is 芝栭 (Chih-êrh). Another common name is 菌 (Chün), and still another is 蕈 (Hsin). Mushrooms growing on hard ground are called 菌 (Chün), those on soft earth are called 芝 (Chih), while those growing on wood are called 栭 or 荋 (Êrh). The 蕈 (Hsin) is more fleshy than the 菌 (Chün), and is probably referred to Boletus or a fleshy Polyporus. Some of the mountain varieties are deleterious. Other terms used for mushrooms are 蓋 (Kai) and 菰 (Ku), but these refer to a few specific specimens. 芝 (Chih) is defined in the classics as the plant of immortality, and it is therefore always considered to be a felicitous one. It is said to absorb the earthy vapors and to leave a heavenly atmosphere. For this reason it is called 靈芝 (Ling-chih.) It is large and of a branched form, and probably represents Clavaria or Sparassis. Its form is likened to that of coral. There are very many varieties; one author says one hundred, but the principal ones are represented by what are known as the 六芝 (Liu-chih), or “six mosses;” namely: the 青芝 (Ch‘ing-chih) or 龍芝 (Lung-chih); the 赤芝 (Ch‘ih-chih) or 丹芝 (Tan-chih); the 黃芝 (Huang-chih) or 金芝 (Chin-chih); the 白芝 (Pai-chih), 玉芝 (Yü-chih), or 素芝 (Su-chih); the 黑芝 (Hei-chih) or 玄芝 (Hsüan-chih); and the 紫芝 (Tzŭ-chih) or 木芝 (Mu-chih). These are all non-poisonous, edible, and are considered to be highly beneficial. The first comes from Taishan, has a sour taste, brightens the eye, strengthens the liver, quiets the spirits, improves the memory, and prolongs life. The second grows on the Hengshan, has a bitter taste, acts especially on the heart, and has the tonic and quieting properties of the first. The third grows on Sungshan, is of a sweet taste, acts specially on the spleen, and is tonic and constructive, as in the case of the other two. The fourth grows on Huashan, is of a pungent taste, acts specially on the lungs and air passages, with beneficial properties as before. The fifth grows on Changshan, has a saltish taste, acts specially on the urinary organs, and is of equaly general value with the others. The sixth comes from the Kaohsiashan (location not known), is of a sweetish-cooling taste, acts on the bones and ligaments, and has the general constructive properties of the others. It is also recommended in deafness and hemorrhoids.