CIIINKSK LITKKATUKK ON T1IK LYCIIKK 19 



Chia Ssu Hsieh CXMl) of the time of the Northern \\Yi 

 Dynasty (4bftl'j A..D. 386-532, in his work on husbandry 1 records 

 that there are many interesting varieties of this fruit, most of which 

 ripen in the fourth month; and that they are preserved by drying, 

 when the Mesh and seed do not appear as when fresh. 



Tuan Kung Lu (fci^?fr) of the T 'any: Dynasty Ogffl), A. D. 

 818-904, in his Geographical Account of tiouth<rn Uhina 2 records 

 the lycnee as a strange and wonderful fruit, the best in South China. 

 He says that it ripens in the Beginning of summer and that it has 

 white and transparent flesh with sweet juices; and that it is as large 

 as an egg and some varieties are without see.ds. These are only a 

 few of the references quoted in the Chinese Encyclopedia. 



Another interesting record is that of Su Shih ($$), high 

 official, poet and essay-writer of the first rank, who in A. D. 1094 

 was accused of having spoken disrespectfully of the Emperor and 

 was banished first to Waichow (ifeW) in Kwangtung (jjlifc) and 

 afterwards to the Island of Hainan ($[$) regions which in those 

 days were utterly barbarous and unknown. These same regions afe 

 to-day famous lychee centers and Su Shih ($$) has left us no less 

 than eight poems ? on this wonderful fruit, one of which was com- 

 posed at the foot of Lo Fou mountain < . H7?flj) and has been translated 

 as follows: 



"Beneath these green mountains where spring rules the 

 year 



The arbutus and loquat in season appear; 

 And feasting on lychee three hundred a day 

 I shouldn't mind staying eternally here. " 4 



'JYi Mm Yao S/ine 



Bretschneider translates the title of this work: Important Rules 

 for the People to gain their Living in Peace. The original work was in 92 

 sections but a part of it was lo.st a long time ago. The edition now current 

 is in ten books. See Bretschneider Botttnicon Sinicnw, pages 77 and 79. 



2 Pei hu hi Uh/*lfc) by Tuan Kung Lu of the T'ang Dynasty. See 

 Bretschneider, Botanicon Sinifum, page 1 78. 



; Ku Chin Tit Shu Chi Cheng (|5'^B1&|J&), Po IVu Hui Pien (Jf4&|!S), 

 Ts"ao Muh Tien (J^.^cft), section 276 \&Z&%1r&&\ Li Chin Pu 2 

 5-fi 



Traiislation 1>\ Mrs. Rose S. \V 



