Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Vol. 30)

I once went to the examination hall in Lulong and observed what were called "Ancient Pines." They were all several hundred years old. Their trunks stood tall and straight, with a verdant, moist color and many knots. Unlike the dragon-scaled bark of old pines, they did not look craggy. When the wind blew, they made a sound like huge waves shaking the sky. Upon examining their "hairpin" needles, I saw they were all in groups of seven. I suspect these are the beautiful Cong firs. The Xiang dialect calls the pine "Cong." In ancient documents, it is sometimes written as Cong, so perhaps the pine and the Cong are indeed of the same family. The pine that bears seeds has leaves like these, but the wood is distinct and rugged, as if carved. Only in Yan, Liao, and Yunnan are they found. The Dian Fanlu describes the Cong as a Silk Cedar. The leaves of the pine and cedar are very different. The Erya records both, so I fear they are not the same category.

In gardens and ancient temples, there are the "Dust-Whisk Pine," the "Guazi Pine" also known as Zheya Pine, the "Golden Coin Pine," and the "Goose Feather Pine." These are all for potted display and are not for construction use. They are merely the offspring of the "Five Officials" a reference to the Qin Emperor's title for pines. Outside the borders, at Wutai, there is the Larch. The Mongols take its bark to use as a substitute for tea. The deciduous trees of the high, cold regions are different from those that "wither last." Moreover, its wood is firm and has poisonous prickles that can rot human flesh. There is a parasitic white resin five or six inches thick, bright and clean like jade; it is slightly soft yet firm. Some use it as the soles of footwear. Also, there is...

Pine