Suitable? blade? speech? Garden bow? Partial text at the far left edge, possibly a series title or location marker from the book's gutter. These fragments are difficult to decipher in isolation but likely refer to garden placement or pruning tools.

Heavenly Bamboooriginal: "南天竹" (Nantian zhu). Scientifically known as Nandina domestica. Although its upright stalks and lace-like foliage resemble bamboo, it is actually an evergreen shrub in the barberry family (Berberidaceae). It is highly prized in East Asian gardens for its bright red winter berries.

Assembly of Fragrances, Volume 26
original: "群芳卷之二十六" (Qunfang Juan zhi ershiliu). The Qunfang Pu was compiled by Wang Xiangjin in the early 17th century and serves as a comprehensive guide to the cultivation and lore of plants.

This page features a fine woodblock illustration of a branch of 'Nantian zhu' (Heavenly Bamboo/Nandina domestica). The artist has captured a dense cluster of round berries—often a symbol of luck and longevity in the New Year—and the plant's characteristic compound leaves. The woodcut demonstrates the high technical skill of the late Ming period, using precise lines to convey botanical details such as leaf venation.

The plant is also known as Sacred Bamboo or the Bamboo of the Southern Skies.The name "Nantian" (Southern Sky) suggests its auspicious nature and its origins in the warmer regions of East Asia.