HISTORY OF THE P^ONY PLANT IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 
87 
Towards the end of the eleventh century, when Chm chmg wrote his Botanical volume 
(1086 — 1093) the Slio yo plant (originally growing in uncultivated spots) was grown all over 
the country in pleasure-gardens and nurseries ; at that time the nurserymen and florists 
used their utmost diligence, also, by powerful manures to procure extraordinary large specimen 
plants, which, in consequence of their vigour, were productive of extra large-sized flowers. 
Their cultivation was at that time most general at Hwae gan foo and its environs, m the 
southerly district of the Hwae stream, from Hwae gan foo to Fung yang (32° 55' N. Lat., 
and 115° 3(?)9' Long, easterly from Paris), and at Chin yang (32° 35' N. Lat. and 112° 
Long, east from Paris). The roots gathered and brought to market, during the 8th and 
9th month are by the same author looked upon, notwithstanding their superiority in size, as 
possessing very little medicinal property, as well as having a bad smell and taste. 
At the time of Le she chin, (1596) Yang chow (32° 26' 32" N. Lat., 117° 4' 13'' E. 
Long.) was the most favourite place to have the Slio yo roots from ; and the old reasoning 
that the Mow tan plant of Lo yang, (Ho nan foo) (34° 43' 15" N. Lat., 1 10° 3(?)7' 40" E, 
Long.) and the Sho yo of Yang chow, were generally considered most superior, and were in 
the author s time still in full power ; the valleys and hills surrounding the Centralpike * 
were profusely furnished with Sho yo plants, whose roots were also gathered and brought 
to market. 
The Sho yo plant, says this author, of which now thirty varieties are known, forms its 
buds about the 19th month (November), and develope from these the charming flowers at 
the ensuing spring. The red or white roots, gathered from the common red or white- 
blooming plants, are most suitable for medical purposes ; after being taken out of the ground, 
properly scraped and cleaned, they are cut into small pieces, and then cooked from 
9 A. M. to 3 in the afternoon, in a mixture of honey and water ; they are afterwards in this 
state, when thoroughly dried, preserved until they are wanted. 
After these observations relating to the distribution of the Sho yo plant, let us now return to 
the Mow tans, about whose native country an author of the sixth century mentions the district 
of the rivers Kea lin keang and Han keang, on the easterly part of the province of Sze chuen, 
and the neighbouring south part of Shen se. Also Soo kung, an author who wrote, about 
the years 656 — 660, a work upon " Natural Philosophy," announces the province of Sze chuen 
(at that time called Keen nan) and the district of Han chung, as the native country of the 
Moiv tans, and particularly expresses his esteem for the white sort, whereof the roots are 
white-coloured within and red without, and which among the peasantry are known by the 
name of Pihleang kin, signifying "a hundred ounces of gold." During his life-time a 
considerable trade was carried on in Mow tan roots at Chang ugan, signifying " Long-rest," 
recently known by the name of Singanfoo (34° 16' 45" N. Lat., 106° 37' 45" E. Long.), 
which were then brought from the district Woo (now Nanking), or the south capital, with the 
environs in the south of the province Keang soo. He declares these roots to be the true 
genuine Mow tan roots, distinct from the more common sort, easily to be ascertained by 
their greasy, pork-like smell. 
The distribution of the Mow tan plants as ornaments for gardens, may be considered first 
to have been introduced during the reign of the Emperor Yang te (605 — 616), who sur- 
rounded his residence Lo yang, with country seats and pleasure-gardens, in which everything 
precious and magnificent was to be collected together. The book upon the " Origin of Matters 
and Objects,"! says that, when Mow tan plants were first brought into notice, their culti- 
vation was in a very short time so considerably augmented, that in the years Khae yuen 
(713 — 741), they could be met with everywhere, as well about the huts of the lower classes 
as about the noble seats of the great. Many new sorts were also at that period raised. 
In a genealogical register of the Mow tdns,l thirty difl'erent varieties have been described, 
and bear names alluding to their origin, colours, or to the names of private individuals. 
The rarest varieties among them are — 
* '^jj^^Chung J O, at present called Sung yo, | | | or Sung shan, south-easterly from Ilonan foo. 
t " Sze wuh he puen," according to the notes in the " Jap. Encyclopsedia." 
:j: Gow yang Sew. Mbrw tan poo, or Genealogical Register of the Mow tans, by Gow yang Sew. 
