Illustrated Investigation of Plant Names and Realities

Chinese Pistache original: "黃連木" (Huanglianmu). Pistacia chinensis.

Among various records, only the Gazetteer of Xiangtan County considers this tree to be the same as the Kai Wood original: "楷木" (Kaimu). Historically, this refers to the trees planted at the tomb of Confucius, often identified as the Chinese Pistache.; it is unknown what source they based this on. The people of the Chu region Modern-day Hubei and Hunan provinces. pronounce the word lian similarly to rao; the character is sometimes written as jie original: "捷" (victory/quickness). or ou original: "鷗" (seagull).. In the spring, villagers pluck the new buds to sell in the cities, calling them Golden Oriole Buds original: "黃鸝芽" (Huangliya), likely named for their bright color..

According to the Fivefold Miscellany original: "五雜俎" (Wuzazu). An encyclopedic book of observations by the Ming dynasty scholar Xie Zhaozhe., there is Kai Wood in the Kong Forest The cemetery of Confucius and his descendants in Qufu, Shandong. in Qufu, which tradition says was planted by the hand of Zigong One of the most prominent disciples of Confucius, known for his loyalty and business acumen.. That tree once measured over ten arm-spans in circumference, but it has since died. Its descendants have spread and grown quite numerously.

The buds of this tree are fragrant and bitter; they can be brewed as a tea substitute, or dried and eaten as a preserved vegetable. Its wood can be used to make ceremonial tablets, pillows, and Go boards. It is said that when the wood is struck, the sound is very resonant and it does not crack—this is why it is so suitable for Go boards. Sleeping on a pillow made from it is said to prevent nightmares, which is why it is prized for pillows.

Because this wood is a relic associated with sages and worthies, local officials daily harvest it to manufacture items to be given as gifts. Today, those that remain are few and far between. It is quite a pity that this tree, unlike the trees of Shangqiu, cannot live out its natural lifespan because it is too "talented" A reference to a famous story in the Zhuangzi about a "useless" tree in Shangqiu that survives to a great age because its wood is too twisted for carpenters to use. Here, the author laments that the Chinese Pistache's usefulness leads to its destruction..

Note: The description of the buds' fragrant and bitter flavor seems to confirm this is indeed the Chinese Pistache. Perhaps the author of the Xiangtan Gazetteer was originally from the Lu region Modern Shandong, the home of Confucius. and thus recognized the tree's true identity.