Asparagus original: 天門冬 (Tianmen Dong)

Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume on Grasses and Trees, Part 1

Ginseng original: 人參 (Renshen) grows in the mountain valleys of Shangdang A region in modern-day Shanxi province, historically famous for producing the highest quality ginseng, as well as in the various prefectures of Liaodong, Hedong, and Qinshan. It is also found in Hebei, Huaiyang, and Fujian; the variety from the latter regions is known as Silla Ginseng original: 新羅人參; Silla was an ancient Korean kingdom, and Korean ginseng has been a prized trade commodity for centuries. However, none of these varieties are as excellent as the ginseng from Shangdang.

The root is shaped like that of the Siler plant Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata), but it is moist and solid. In spring, the sprouts emerge; in the third or fourth month, it produces tiny flowers like millet grains, with thread-like stamens of a purplish-white color. After autumn, it bears seeds. Those roots that take on the shape of a human are considered to possess a divine spirit. The variety produced on Mount Tai is quite distinct, having green stems and leaves but a white root.

In the Yangtze and Huai regions, there is a variety called "Earth Ginseng" original: 土人參 (Tu Renshen). Its leaves are small and spoon-shaped, resembling the Balloon Flower Jiegeng (Platycodon grandiflorus), and it has an extremely sweet and pleasant flavor.

According to local lore, there is a way to test for genuine Shangdang Ginseng: have two people walk together. One holds a piece of ginseng in their mouth, while the other does not. After walking three to five li A traditional Chinese unit of distance; 5 li is approximately 2.5 kilometers or 1.5 miles, the person without the ginseng will be gasping for breath, while the one holding the ginseng in their mouth will breathe as calmly and easily as usual. This is how its authenticity and superior quality are confirmed.