The Oriole original: 鶬鶊, cang-geng Yellow Uncle

Shizhen Li Shizhen, the primary author says: The Classic of Birds states: "The cang [oriole] sings ying-ying," hence the name. Others say the oriole's neck has patterns, which is why the character contains ying original: 賏, ying, which refers to a neck ornament. Sometimes it is written as ying original: 鶯, meaning a bird with patterned feathers. The Classic of Poetry says: "Striped are its feathers," which refers to this. Its color is yellow with a hint of dark-yellow original: 黧, li, leading to various names like the "yellow-bird" (huang-li). Lu Ji A 3rd-century scholar states: "People of the Qi region call it the 'Millet-Striker' (bo-shu); people of Zhou call it the 'Chu Sparrow' (chu-que); those in Youzhou call it the 'Yellow Oriole' (huang-li)." The people of Qin call it the "Yellow Oriole," and the people of the Huai River region call it the "Yellow Shrike" (huang-bo-lao). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty called it the "Prince in Golden Clothes." It is also sometimes called the "Yellow Robe."

Collected Explanations

Shizhen says: The oriole is found everywhere. It is larger than a crested myna, and the male and female fly together. The body feathers are yellow, while the wings and tail have alternating black markings. It has black "eyebrows," a pointed beak, and blue-green legs. It begins to sing after the "Start of Spring" Lichun, the first solar term of the lunar calendar; its song is most frequent when the wheat turns yellow and the mulberries are ripe. Its voice is smooth and melodic, resembling the sound of a weaving loom; it is a bird that responds to the seasons and follows the timing of the year. The Monthly Ordinances a classic ritual calendar says: "In mid-spring, the oriole sings." The Shuowen Jiezi an ancient dictionary states: "When the oriole sings, the silkworms are born." During the winter months, it hibernates by hiding in the mud of fields and ponds, wrapping itself in mud like an egg, and only emerges when spring arrives.

Meat Shizhen

Flavor and Nature: Sweet, warm, and non-toxic.

Primary Indications: It supplements and benefits the yang qi the active, warming energy of the body and aids the spleen. Wang Ying A Ming dynasty pharmacologist Eating it prevents jealousy A traditional folk belief that consuming certain birds could harmonize domestic emotions.