The Hawfinch

original: 桑鳲, Sangshi. Likely the Masked Grosbeak or Hawfinch, known for its thick, powerful beak.

As Food

It is said that for men, the left [wing/foot] should be used, and for women, the right. If placed in water, they will naturally follow one another. Minzang Likely referring to the Tang dynasty naturalist Chen Zangqi, whose works are often cited in this compendium.

Explanation of Names

Grease-Stealer from the Erya The Erya is the oldest surviving Chinese dictionary, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Green Finch according to Guo Pu Wax-bill Finch Shizhen says: The meaning is the same as "Protector" [Hu], implying to stop or regulate. The Zuo Zhuan records that the legendary ruler Shaohao named his officials after birds.

The "Nine Protectors" original: 九扈, Jiu Hu served as the nine agricultural officials, whose duty was to regulate the people and prevent them from falling into excess. The Sangshi is the "Protector" found among the mulberry trees. Its back is either a pale white like grease or a congealed yellow like wax; hence the ancient name "Grease-Stealer." Its common name is "Wax-bill." The term for a light color is "Stealer" original: 竊, Qie. In ancient glossaries, this character could mean "faint" or "pale" when describing colors.. The scholar Lu Ji claimed it was named so because it loves to steal and eat fatty meat, but this is likely incorrect.

Collected Explanations

Shizhen says: The Shi bird is found everywhere in mountains and forests. It is as large as a wood pigeon, grayish-brown with spots, and enjoys eating chestnuts and rice. The Book of Songs says: "Flapping are the hawfinches, with their shimmering feathers," which refers to this bird. Its back and beak are slightly curved, thick, strong, and glossy. They may be light yellow, light white, light blue, light black, light dark-red, or light cinnabar. There are nine varieties of this bird, distinguished by the color of their beaks and their distinct calls, rather than the color of their feathers. The Erya states: in spring it is the "Dove-Protector," in summer the "Dark-Stealer," in autumn the "Blue-Stealer," and in winter the "Yellow-Stealer." The one in the mulberry trees is the "Grease-Stealer," the one in the brambles is the "Cinnabar-Stealer," the one in the fields is the "Chattering-Stealer," and the one active at night is the "Hissing-Stealer."