MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 485 
323.— Fe J ts‘in pt. P., XXXVb,1. T.,, CCCVI. 
Pen king :—Ts‘in p% (bark), #% J% isin pd and IK 
sim mu. The bark of the tree is officinal. Taste bitter. 
Nature slightly cold. Non-poisonous. 
The Shuo wen [see K.D.] explains the character #8 
by FF FZ Ax (a tree with a green bark). Huat wan ‘sz° says 
it is of a green colour and is used as a medicine for the 
eyes. Kao Yu, of the Han dynasty, in commenting upon 
Hua wan sz‘, identifies the tsin with the 74 HE ku (bitter) 
li, The Ui is said by some ancient authors [see K.D., and 
W.D., 537] to be the same as BE lé (an oak).—Regarding 
the #% the Zang yin dictionary says that it resembles the 
huai (Sophora). ; 
Pie lu:—Other name: ¥ ff shi t‘an. The ts‘in p% is 
produced in Lii kiang [in An hui, App. 207] in river-valleys - 
and in Yiian kii [in Shan tung, App. 415] by river-sides. 
The bark is gathered in the 2nd and 8th months and dried 
in the shade. 
T‘ao Huna-xrxe :—The popular name of the drug is 
Se Be Jan kui p%. When steeped in water it yields 
a bluish indelible ink. 
Su Kune [7th cent.]:—The leaves of this tree are like 
those of the tan (Cwsalpinia) but smaller, wherefore it is 
also called shi t*an [v. supra]. As the bark is of a bitter 
taste the tree is also called 4 HY iu shu (bitter tree). 
The bark shows white spots and is not coarsely veined.” By 
steeping the bark in water an indelible blue ink is prepared. 
Su Suye [11th cent.]:—This tree grows . all pre- 
fectures of Shen si [App. 284] and in Ho yang [in Ho nen, 
App. 81]. It isa tall tree resembling the t‘an ( Cesalpinia). 
”* Be A Bi i Hl ia - 
