The Chou Tree

Chou original: "椆" (Chou). This refers to the Quercus glauca, commonly known as the Ring-cupped Oak or Blue Japanese Oak. It is an evergreen tree highly valued in Southern China for its incredibly hard, durable wood.

According to the Gazetteer of Xinhua County, the Classic of Mountains original: "Shanjing" (山經). An ancient Chinese text describing geography and mythology. states that Hushou Mountain is home to many Chou trees. The Shuowen Jiezi The first Chinese dictionary to analyze characters and their origins, compiled in the 2nd century. simply defines it as a tree, while the Leipian An 11th-century character dictionary. notes that it endures the cold without withering. Today, its common name is the Liangshan Tree. It has many branches and its foliage stands tall and elegant like a canopy; the leaves are a deep, dark green and remain lush throughout the winter.

The Gazetteer of Shaoyang County records that there are two varieties of Chou: the Red and the White. The Red is considered superior, while the White is of secondary quality. The texture of the wood is hard, yet its nature is flexible. When crafting utensils or tools from this wood, it must be submerged in water for a full year to become truly solid and stable; if this is not done, the wood will quickly warp and crack after a short time.

The Gazetteer of Chenxi County also notes the Red and White varieties. The white type is locally called the Haojing Chou Meaning "Brushwood" or "Common" Chou., while the red type is known as the Yan Chou Meaning "Rock" Chou, implying a harder, mountain-grown variety.. Its grain is straight and firm, making it suitable for carrying-poles and palanquins; the largest specimens are used to build heavy oil presses.

Commentary: Just as Camphor is the primary wood of Jiangxi, the Chou tree is the source of nearly all household utensils throughout Hunan, and its reputation has spread both near and far. However, while Camphor wood is found throughout the Jiangnan region The lands south of the Yangtze River. up until the southern mountain ridges, the Chou tree is virtually unheard of outside of Hunan. The character for its name is sometimes written as Gou (構), but the Xinhua County Gazetteer follows the Classic of Mountains by using Chou (椆), which is more accurate. The wood is heavy and hard, durable, and resistant to insects. Its leaves resemble those of the Camphor tree—though slightly smaller—and also bear a resemblance to the Camellia.

校 original: "jiao". A printer's mark indicating the text has been "checked" or "proofread."