Eristalis tenax in Chinese and Japanese literature. 14;? 



„in attributing the origin of tliis story to the confusion of the honey- 

 bee with JEi^istalis, the latter insect must have already been abundant 

 in China in the 5^ and 6|| centuries A. D." 



„Later, in the 16^ Century, another writer, Li Schi-Chin, wrote 

 in the sanie sense: „Honey-bees, gathering innocuous flowers, produce 

 honey by preparation with urine. Indeed it is an instance of the 

 offensive and rotten producing the sacred and mysterious." This Li 

 Schi-Chin is perhaps the greatest naturalist China has ever seen. 

 He published 1578 a „Sj^stem of Materia Medica" (Pan Tsäu Kang 

 Muh) in 52 volumes, describing 1892 articles, which was really the 

 „Systema Naturae" of the Far East. All the so-called naturalists 

 in China, Corea, and (tili lately) in Japan, were nothing niore than 

 comnientators of his work." 



„Still another author, Li Chung Tze (16^ Century?), in his 

 „Explanations of medicinal properties" (in Chinese: Yöh-Sing-Kiai) 

 repeats the same story about bees and honey. The majority of 

 druggists in China entertained that opinion formerly, and perhaps 

 may do so even now." 



A passage quoted by Mr. K. M. in „Nature", May 10 1894, 

 (and after him by me in the „Oxen-born bees" etc. p. 19) bctrays 

 tlie same confusion between Eiristalis and the honey-bee: „Sie Tsai- 

 Kang, a Chinese writer of the XVII^ Century, in his „Miscellanies 

 of the Five Phenomena" (Wu Tsah Tsü, 16 volumes, about 1610 ?; 

 Japanese edition 1661, Book IX, p. 43) says: „In Chang Sha of Tsü 

 I saw honey-bees without stings, so that when trifled with upon the 

 palms they were quite harmless; having no difference from flies that 

 w'as Strange!" 



About the latter author, Sic Tsai-Kang, Mr. K. M. adds that 

 he was „a Chinese niiscellany-writer of astonishing knowledge. He 

 w-as a native of Min, now a portion of the Province of Fuh-Kien; 

 his „Wu-Tsah-Tsü," literally: „Five mixed tables," or „the Miscellanies 

 of the Five Phenomena," comprising books I — II, devoted to Heaven, 

 III— IV to the Earth, V— VIII to Mcn, IX— XII to Things or Beings, 

 and the last four books to Actions, ') is widely read in Japan and 

 China for its concise Statements and expositions of any facts and 



1) The „Five Phenomena" are: Heaven, Earth, Man, Things (or 

 Beings), and Action. Under „Man" all the characters, both bodily and 

 mental, of raankind are treated. Under „Things (or Beings)" are com- 

 prised animals, plants and artificial productions (such as viands, beverages, 

 implements, furniture etc.). Under „Action" are understood all the 

 manners and conduct of individuals, and the general events, whelher 

 religious or political. (K. M.) 



