Compendium of Materia Medica, Vol. 49

The Erya The oldest surviving Chinese dictionary, dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE. says the Ju bird original: 鵙, Ju. Identified as the Shrike. resembles the He-ju but is larger. Fu Qian A scholar of the Eastern Han dynasty. says the name is pronounced xia-gan and refers to the white-necked shrike.

Zhang Hua's commentary on the Book of Birds original: 禽經, Qin Jing. An early classic on ornithology. says the Shrike original: 伯勞, Bolao. is shaped like a turtledove; the turtledove has a yellow beak, whereas the Shrike has a black beak.

Xu Shen's Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters original: 說文, Shuowen Jiezi. The first dictionary to analyze Chinese character components. says the Ju resembles [other birds] but has a crest. Yan Shigu's commentary on the Book of Han A Tang dynasty scholar known for his linguistic rigor. claims the Ju is actually the Cuckoo original: 子規, Zigui. Often associated with melancholy in poetry.. Wang Yi's commentary on the Songs of the South original: 楚詞, Chuci. identifies the Ju as the Weaver-bird. Yang Xiong’s Regional Characters original: 方言, Fangyan. The first work on Chinese dialects. calls the Ju the...

Ju-ju. Chen Zhengmin’s Leisurely Views from the Recluse’s Study original: 遯齋閑覽, Dunjai Xianlan. says the Ju is the Silk-bird. Li Zhao’s Supplement to the National History says the Ju is the Common Cuckoo original: 布穀, Bugu. Literally "cloth-grain," named for its call which sounds like an encouragement to plant crops.. Yang Shen’s Vermilion and Lead Records says the Ju is the "Plough-driver" bird. These nine theories all differ. I humbly suggest that the Ju...

...is a bird used to mark the seasons, so it must not be a rare species. Now, examining the merits of these claims: Wang's theory is erroneous and does not require further debate. According to Guo Pu’s theory A famous Jin dynasty commentator., it resembles today’s Waterhen original: 苦鳥, Kuniao.. According to the theories of Zhang and Xu, it resembles...

...today’s Blackbird original: 百舌, Baishe. Literally "Hundred Tongues," referring to its varied song., which looks like a turtledove but has a crest. However, the Shrike prefers to live alone, and when it cries, snakes are said to coil up in fear; the Blackbird cannot control snakes, so they are not the same. According to Yan’s theory, the Cuckoo's name is Jujiu, pronounced...

...di-gui. The Shrike’s name is Jujiu, pronounced jue. Furthermore, the "Monthly Ordinances" original: 月令, Yueling. An ancient calendar system. originated in the North, and the Cuckoo is not a bird found in the North. According to Yang’s theory, the Jujiu is actually the "Cold-howling animal" original: 寒號蟲, Hanhao Chong. Historically identified as the complex-toothed flying squirrel, which was once thought to be a bird that lost its feathers in winter., found only in the lands of Jin. According to Chen’s theory, it is said...

...that it is called "The Executor" original: 擊斷, Jiduan. Referring to the shrike's predatory efficiency.. Although it is treated as a bird here, its physical appearance is not described, which contradicts Chen Cangqi’s theory that the Ju is the same as the Shrike. Furthermore, the Erya states that the Ju-ju is also named Jujiu, which differs from this. According to...

...Li’s theory, the Cuckoo is also named Jujiu because the pronunciations are similar. This also conflicts with the "Monthly Ordinances" description of the Jujiu "brushing its feathers" original: 佛其羽, bi qi yu. Referring to a specific seasonal grooming behavior.. According to Yang’s theory, the "Ma-cui" is the Jujiu; it is as small as a Shrike and appears in the third month...