Imperially Commissioned Siku Quanshu

Compendium of Materia Medica: Volume 33

Fruits, Part 5 Nine vegetable-like fruits, with one variety attached

Muskmelon

original: 甜瓜 (Tiangua). Corrected and integrated into this division during the Jiayou era of the Song Dynasty (1056–1063); previously categorized under the entry for "Melon Pedicle" in the classic texts.

Explanation of Names

Sweet Melon From the Materia Medica Fruit Melon
Shizhen says: The seal script character for "melon" (瓜) is a pictograph representing the shape of a melon hanging amidst its curling vines and tendrils. Because the flavor of the muskmelon is sweeter than all other melons, it alone earned the name "Sweet" or "Sugary Melon." It was previously categorized in the Vegetable Division, but this was an error. According to Wang Zhen Wang Zhen (1271–1333) was a Yuan Dynasty official and agronomist famous for his "Book of Agriculture" (Nong Shu).: Melons vary in kind, but have two primary uses. Those served as fruit are "Fruit Melons," such as the muskmelon and the watermelon; those served as vegetables are "Vegetable Melons," such as the cucumber original: 胡瓜 (Hugua), literally "Barbarian Melon," referring to its introduction from the West. and the pickling melon original: 越瓜 (Yuegua).. Generally, produce that grows on trees is called "fruit," while produce that grows on the ground is called "vegetable." Large melons are called gua, while small, emerging melons are called die The terms gua and die appear in the "Classic of Poetry" (Shijing) to describe the growth and proliferation of a family line..