Assembly of Fragrances: Volume 26

Page Three

Investigation of Plants and Flowers

The name "Jade" is derived from the traditional saying "planting jade in Lantianoriginal: "藍田" (Lantian). A district in Shaanxi province famous since antiquity for producing high-quality jade. The text is playing on a linguistic confusion between "Lantian" and "Nan Tianzhu" (Southern India).." Some say this plant originally came from the country of Southern India original: "南天竺" (Nan Tianzhu), hence the name "Southern Heaven." It is said that people mispronounced "Southern India" as "Lantian." The wood of this plant is exceptionally well-suited for making perches to be placed inside birdcages for the comfort of songbirds.

In the book Casual Remarks from the Reed Window original: "藎牗閒評" (Jinyou Jianping), it is mentioned that if a family plants the Heavenly Bamboo, the women of the household will become prone to jealousy. I have heard this old saying for a long time, but I do not know if it is actually true.

When I was previously in Jiangyin, there was a man named Cao, a Legal Officeroriginal: "檢法" (Jianfa). A minor judicial official in the local government hierarchy., whose wife was quite fierce—and her temperament went far beyond mere jealousy. Cao was building a new residence and sought out the so-called "Southern Indian" plant to place in the eastern corner of his main hall. I happened to visit him at the time and casually informed him of what I had heard regarding the plant's reputation.

Cao replied dismissively, "Could that really be true? Even now, without this plant, my home is not at peace. If I were to plant such a 'provocative object,' what then?"

I said, "One cannot know for certain; it might simply be a pleasant object for the eyes and ears."

Cao replied, "My eyes and ears might not get their pleasure, while my heart and belly are destroyed first! Better to leave it be." He immediately ordered the plant to be removed, and all the guests present could not help but laugh.

The Heavenly Bamboooriginal: "南天竹" (Nantian zhu) is so named because it possesses nodes and joints similar to those of a bamboo stalk. It is also called...