Pepper

original: "椒" (Jiao). In a historical Chinese context, this does not refer to the chili pepper (which arrived from the Americas later) or black pepper, but to the native Szechuan pepper (Zanthoxylum). It was highly valued for its fragrance, its ability to "warm" the body, and its use in ritual contexts, such as mixing into the plaster of palace walls to scent the air.

Szechuan Pepper
original: "蜀椒" (Shujiao). Literally "Pepper of Shu," referring to the ancient name for the Sichuan region, which has remained the premier source of this plant for millennia due to the ideal climate for its essential oil production.

Botanical IllustrationThe woodcut provided depicts a mature Zanthoxylum branch. Key identification features shown include the alternate pinnate leaves and the stout thorns on the woody stem, which distinguish it from other shrubs.