Wu tsa-tsu (1619) of the Ming Dynasty which are not repeated 
here. There may be other mentions of this mushroom in the 
numerous pi-chi of all dynasties. It may be noted that in San- 
ford’s translation of the former, the term ‘‘Wen-tai’’ receives a 
footnote explaining that it is possibly not a place name and Is 
meant for ‘“‘warm spots.’’ Actually it is an abbreviation for 
Wenchow and Taichow, two districts in the eastern part of 
Chekiang province, the same area where Ch’én Jén-yu pre- 
pared his treastise on the fungi (19). 
In a study on the search of elixir for immortality by Taoist 
practitioners in ancient China, Needham (1974) mentions the 
possible use of hallucinogenic plants, which may include the fly 
agaric, Amanita muscaria. He quotes Watson that this fungus 
was known in China, as in several other cultures, by the name 
of toad mushroom, Ha-ma-ch’un, now often Tu-ying-hsin or 
fly-killing fungus. The laughing mushroom, Hsiao-ch’un, is 
identified by him as Panaeolus or Pholiota. Needham remarks 
that “‘the further exploration of hallucinogenic fungi and other 
plants in Taoism and in Chinese culture in general will be an 
exciting task.”’ 
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