300 PoRTERFIELD: ALGAE IN THE CHINESE CLASSICS 
many have long silk-like filaments, the longer ones more than 
thirty “segments” each, and others have the appearance of 
“uncombed hair.” 
Metaphorically the term for algae is used in a very compli- 
mentary sense. The elegance and beauty of essays was often 
designated by or compared to that of the algae. The term was 
used in praise of the thinking of a learned man, signifying that 
his thoughts were as systematically ordered as the parts of an 
alga. Judgment was in like manner complimented. The 
algae contributed not only to the language and literature of 
the Chinese but also to their art and superstitions. In an old 
book called Zong Shu, we find reference to conventionalized 
designs derived from algae being included in the embroidery of 
their garments. When the figures of algae appeared on the ends 
of the roof beams of their houses in brilliant colors, we find that 
the underlying idea was protection from fire. Because algae 
were known to be water plants, any evidence of them on houses 
was a protection against fire in that the former invoked the aid 
of their native element to drive away the fire spirit. 
From this discussion we begin to realize that from direct 
references in ancient Chinese literature and an analysis of the 
ideograph, there is a possibility, if not a probability, that the 
knowledge of the algae as a distinct morphologic unit in the 
plant kingdom dates back to very early times, as compared 
with the state of knowledge in western countries. Moreover 
this knowledge seemed to be more wide spread amongst the 
people from the use of Tsao in a metaphorical sense, in its 
practical use as medicine, as food and fuel, and as fertilizer; as 
the basis of commercial products; and in the realization of its 
decorative value and its superstitious meaning. 
