Chinese drugs personified: Lithograph, 1935

Yaohui tukao (Illustrated Congregation of Drugs), published in 1935 (24th year of the Republic of China), presents the materia medica in dramatic form. It consists of ten scenes, in which various drugs appear as protagonists. This illustration accompanies Scene 3, Yaoshe chuxian (The Snake Monsters Appear), in which characters personifying Cape jasmine (zhizi), long-nosed pit viper (baihua she), and Chinese rat snake (wushao she, Zaocys dhumnades (Cantor)) present the sapors, potencies, and therapeutic uses of various drugs through the medium of spoken dialogue and song. Cubeb pepper (bichengqie, piper cubeba) can warm the spleen and the kidney. Alpinia officinarum (gaoliangjiang) warms the stomach and disperses cold. Korean raspberry (fupenzi, Rubus chingii; Rubus coreanus) strengthens the kidney and astringes essence/semen (jing). Fenugreek warms and strengthens the fire of mingmen [the right kidney regarded as 'Portal of Life']. Aconite restores Yang from collapse. Lindera (wuyao) regulates Qi and adjusts the centre. Musk is excellent for clearing the mind. Fennel relieves hernia and warms the uterus. Banksia rose (muxiang) can promote the normal flow of stagnant Qi. White sandalwood (tanxiang) enhances the mood… Altogether, this scene introduces about 90 drugs.

TITLE: The snake monsters appear CAPTIONS: The snake monsters appear; Chinese rat snake (wushao she, Zaocys dhumnades (Cantor)); long-nosed pit viper (baihua she); Cape jasmine (zhizi)