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Abstract
The present contribution provides an annotated translation of the description of the walnut (Juglans regia) in Category IV, Section XX, juan 284 of the Gujin tushu jicheng (Imperial Encyclopaedia) which became available to Western scholarship only through the two reprints at the end of the 19th century. The outstanding Orientalist Berthold Laufer had already summarized this chapter for his groundbreaking Sino-Iranica in 1919; thus this full and annotated presentation serves as a documentation to underpin Laufer’s views and also proves the careful work of the editors at the Imperial court. The translation was already completed in 1923 but not published probably because of the difficult situation after WW I. The translator, Michael Hagerty (1876–1951), worked for the US Department of Agriculture under the botanist Walter T. Swingle (1871–1952); the achievements of both scholars in the field of East Asiatic botany have so far not been fully appreciated. The translation was revised and edited for this presentation. This is the first translation of the walnut chapter into a Western language; it shows the benefits of the walnut as a food item, as a crop and a medicine from the Chinese point of view, based on more than thousand years of experience. It also serves as an example of the plant descriptions in the Gujin tushu jicheng and hints at a widely untapped resource of Western historical botany.
本文提供了對《古今圖書集成》中有關核桃（Juglans regia）描述章節（「核桃部匯考」）的注釋翻譯。西方學術界在 19 世紀末才獲得《古今圖書集成》的重印本。傑出的東方學家貝托爾德·勞費爾（Berthold Laufer）在 1919 年就在其開創性的《中國伊朗編》（Sino-Iranica）中對這一章進行了總結，因此，本文的全文翻譯注釋既是對勞費爾觀點的佐證，也證明了清代翰林院編修的精心工作。譯者邁克爾·哈格蒂（Michael Hagerty, 1876–1951）曾在美國農業部工作，師從植物學家沃爾特·施永格（Walter T. Swingle, 1871–1952），這兩位學者在東亞植物學領域的成就迄今尚未得到充分肯定。本文對譯文進行了修訂和編輯，這是首次將《古今圖書集成·核桃部匯考》翻譯成西方語言，它從中國人一千多年經驗的角度，展示了核桃作為食品、作物和藥物的多种益處，是《古今圖書集成》中植物描述的一個範例，並且也暗示了西方植物學史研究中一個廣泛未開發的資源。
*The manuscript is in the possession of the Library of Congress Asian Division, Washington D.C. (no call no.). I thank the late Dr. Wu Kuang-tsing 吳光清 for kindly making it accessible to me.
Notes
3 See CitationLaufer 1929.
4 See CitationLaufer 1938.
6 The work was authored by the monk Fayun 法雲 (1088–1158). Laufer used the edition of Nanjing, 1878.
7 Cf. ed. Tōkyō: Hirokawa 1970, j. 23/39 (p. 520).
8 CitationFeng Xiaojia 2018, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.01399/full (accessed 5 Dec. 2023).
9 See also CitationXi 1989.
10 He did not mention it but he followed the same order in discussing the primary sources.
12 An easy access to the paper edition of the Gujin tushu jicheng is still provided by Lionel Giles 1911. But there are modern indices from China and Japan, too, as well as full-text access.
13 See CitationVenning 1977.
15 See the “Secondary Sources” in the Bibliography.
16 A more detailed study of Hagerty’s work is in preparation.
17 This issue is briefly touched upon in a general way in CitationWalravens 2005.
18 The identifications given are after CitationMatsumura 1921. Matsumura lists the following under Juglans regia, L.: hutao 胡桃, hetao 核桃, qiangtao 羌桃, and hetou 合頭. Most probably the latter name is merely a phonetic imitation of the name hetao 核桃.
19 The Guangzhi or Extensive Records, was written by Guo Yigong 郭義恭, of the Liang dynasty period, A.D. 502–556.
20 The title Mingwuzhi as given here is rather ambiguous and may be merely an abbreviation of the name of the work. Literally the characters mean Names of Objects.
21 Gangmu is the abbreviated title of the Bencao gangmu, a celebrated Chinese materia medica written by Li Shizhen 李時珍, who lived in the early part of the 16th century. It is generally conceded to be the standard work of its class and is very freely quoted by subsequent writers.
22 In this name the characters boluoshi are used phonetically to reproduce the Sanscrit word for walnut. This name is found in the Fanyi mingyi ji 翻譯名義集, or Glossary of Sanscrit names with their Chinese equivalents. See section III, p. 35, v., col. 3, of this work.
23 Chencang corresponds to the eastern part of Baoji 寶雞 district in Shaanxi province. Matsumura identifies a Chencang hutao 陳倉胡桃 as Juglans cordiformis, Maxim.
24 Yinping is the obsolete name of a locality corresponding to the northwestern part of the present Wen 文 district in Gansu province. It was also used to denote what is now Long’an 龍安, Sichuan.
25 This is a sort of geographical account of southern China and was written around 875, by Duan Gonglu 段公路.
26 Matsumura 1921 identifies a shanhutao as Juglans mandshurica, Maxim. He also identifies a shanhetao as Juglans sieboldiana, Maxim.
27 This name presents some difficulty. Matsumura 1921 does not include it in his Chinese names of plants. CitationLaufer 1919 says that it might be the Chinese butternut, Juglans cathayensis or the fruit of Canarium commune. See CitationLaufer 1919, pp. 269–270, for a discussion concerning this name.
28 Laufer is of the opinion that Zhanbeiguo denotes a locality in Malayan territory, probably Jambi (Zhanbei 詹卑), the capital of eastern Sumatra. See CitationLaufer 1919, pp. 268–269.
29 CitationLaufer 1919 says that Bosi here denotes a locality in Malayan territory.
30 Records concerning the products of China and foreign countries.
31 Probably so-called because of some similarity in their forms.
32 Matsumura does not give this name in his work. It must refer to something other than the walnut as the term is translated Creeping Walnut.
33 Nanzhao is an old name for the present Jingdong 京東, Yunnan province. It was also used to denote what is now Dalifu 大里府, Yunnan.
34 Bianluo is another name for the xian 蜆, a bivalve identified as Corbicula leana, Prime., or Cyclina orientalis. See Dongwuxue dacidian 動物學大辭典 1922, p. 1728, under Xian 蜆.
35 Man is a general term for the barbarian tribes of the southern part of China. The term Tengzi is not as specific as Manhutao and it might be translated: Seed or fruit of a creeping vine.
36 This is a work of the Miscellaneous Writers class, written by an unknown author. Published in 1502.
37 These are the edible pine nuts.
38 “Guoshu” is the name of a section of Wang Shimao’s 王世懋 (1536–1588) treatise on horticulture, gardens, etc., entitled Xuebu zashu 學圃雜疏. He took his literary degree of jinshi during the time of Jiajing 嘉靖, 1522–1566.
39 This is a materia medica of the Song dynasty period which appeared after the Jiayou 嘉祐 reign, 1056–1063 A.D.
40 There is an error in the text here, the character fei 肥 or fat, flesh, etc., being used instead of cui 脃 or brittle.
41 This would seem to contradict the statement made on p. 51 of CitationMeyer 1911.
42 The words, in its outer skin or hull, have been added here in an endeavour to clear up some ambiguity in the text. A literal translation would be contradictory as it is not possible to draw a distinction between flesh and kernel in this connection. We are without an original text of the Lingbiaolu yi and therefore we cannot compare to see whether or not the Chinese Encyclopaedia quotation is correct. (The Lingbiaolu yi, a work of the Tang period, was lost and only reconstructed from the Yongle dadian.)
43 He was a celebrated Taoist and physician of the 7th century (581–682?). He is the author of the work entitled Qianjin shizhi 千金食治, i.e., juan 30 of his Qianjin beiji fang 千金備急方.
44 Ma Zhi (fl. 975) was a Taoist and co-author with Liu Han 劉翰 of the Kaibao bencao 開寶本草 or Materia medica of the Kaibao period (A.D. 968–976) of the reign of emperor Taizu 太祖, the founder of the Song dynasty.
45 It is not easy to determine whether wine or distilled liquor is indicated where this term jiu is used throughout this translation. It is very frequently mentioned as an ingredient in medicinal prescriptions, and also as a liquid to be drunk after taking the medicine. When used in these old texts, the probability is that some kind of distilled liquor is indicated.
46 Wang Ying (fl. 1600) was co-author of the Shiwu bencao 食物本草 or Treatise on substances used as food and medicine, a work of the beginning of the 17th century.
47 Zhu Zhenheng (1281–1358) was a celebrated Taoist and physician. He was the author of a revision and amplification of the Bencao yanyi 本草衍義, a medical work written originally by Kou Zongshi 寇宗奭 (fl. 1116) of the Song dynasty.
48 This statement illustrates the Chinese belief regarding the sympathies and antipathies existing between the Five Elements, shui 水, huo 火, mu 木, jin 金 and tu 土, and every object in creation.
49 [Meng Shen (621–713) was a civil servant under the Tang and the author of the Buyang fang 補養方 which formed the basis of the Shiliao bencao 食療本草, a work of the second half of the 7th century. In the medical field he was a disciple of Sun Simiao. Cf. CitationUnschuld 1973, pp. 180–181.]
50 The mingmen 名門 (literally, Life’s gateway) is given the following explanation: It is the right kidney and is regarded as the seat of the jingshen 精神 (animal spirits or mental energy) and the place upon which the original life force depends. The male stores his vital fluid there, and in the female the ovaries are situated at this point. For this reason it is so-called. The left organ is called the kidney and the right is called the mingmen. Another theory is that the mingmen is situated between the two kidneys and that it is a small heart located at the side of the seventh vertebrae. Beneath there is a lining of membraneous skin. In the male it is the store-house of the seminal fluid. In the female it is the enclosure of the ovaries. On the upper part it is attached to the kidneys, while on the lower part it is joined to the bladder. See CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 1485.
51 This term, which is more properly written 三膲, denotes the three divisions into which the Chinese divide the internal organs. The shangjiao 上膲 or upper region includes that part where the heart and the lungs are located. The zhongjiao 中膲 or middle region includes that part where the spleen and stomach are located. The xiajiao 下膲 or lower region includes that part where the liver, kidneys, bladder, and small intestines are located.
52 The term used here is zhongbing 重病 but it is possible that this is an error and should be zhongbing 腫病, which would mean painful swellings.
53 There is an error in the text here, the character fu 復 being given instead of fu 腹.
54 Han Mao (1441–1522?) is the author of a medical work entitled Yitong 醫通. He was a native of Luzhou 瀘州, Sichuan. He is also known as Feixia daoren 飛霞道人. See CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 4328.
55 In the Shennong bencao-jing 神農本草經, a Materia medica said to have been written by Emperor Shennong, who is supposed to have reigned B.C. 2838–2698, the various drugs are divided, according to their merits or functions, into three classes as follows: jun 君 or sovereigns, chen 臣 or ministers, and zuo 佐, or assistants. The latter is also called shi 使, agents. See CitationBretschneider 1882, pp. 29–30.
56 Jingqi, according to Giles’ Chinese–English Dictionary, is an aura which makes things what they are. It is an incorporeal essence which is inseparable from the phenomena of life. See CitationGiles 1912, p. 266 under jing 精.
57 This is a work on internal maladies, which Bretschneider thinks was compiled by Wang Bing 王冰 of the 8th century, but which is sometimes ascribed to emperor Huangdi (B.C. 2697–2596). It probably dates back to the Han dynasty. Together with the Suwen 素問 it forms the Huangdi neijing 黃帝內經.
58 This is a work by Bian Que, who is said to have been one of the physicians of emperor Huangdi, while others believe that he was a famous physician of the 5th century B.C. He was also known as Qin Yueren 秦越人. The theory of the pulse is said to have been derived from his discourses.
59 Gao Yangsheng was the author of the treatise on the pulse entitled Mojue 脈訣, in four books. He was a man of the Five Dynasties period. See CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 1055.
60 Zhu Gong (1050–1125?) was a man of the Song dynasty period and a native of Huzhou 湖州 (in Zhejiang province). He called himself Wu Jiuzi 無求子. He was a skilful physician. See CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 1055.
61 Chen Yan was a man of the Song dynasty period. The mentioned book was finished in 1174. For an account of his work see CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 103.
62 Dai Qizong was a man of the Yuan 元 dynasty period (A.D. 1206–1341). In the text of the Gujin tushu jicheng the second character of his name is given as 起, while CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 2312 gives it as 啟.
63 This statement becomes intelligible only when we consider the affinity that is supposed to exist between the north and black.
64 Hong Mai (1123–1202) was a writer of popular stories. His works are considered today valuable sources of everyday life in Song China. The Yijianzhi consisted originally of 420 juan or chapters and offers stories on all kinds of subjects, presented without any apparent order.
65 This is another allusion to the relationship existing between the Five Elements. According to the old Chinese beliefs there is a generation and corruption of the Five Elements as follows: Metal begets water, water begets wood, wood begets fire, fire begets earth, earth begets metal. Metal destroys wood, wood destroys earth, earth destroys water, water destroys fire, fire destroys metal. The implication here is that the walnut being of a heating nature is associated with fire and therefore has this power.
66 Congestion of lungs and difficulty in breathing.
67 [Possibly a general reference to Daoist texts on life cultivation. BGD 529.]
68 No information available on Xiao Dayin.
69 These are the last three characters in a title of a collection of prescriptions and most probably denote either one of the following works: Song Taizong Taiping Shenghui fang 宋太宗太平聖惠方, a collection of prescriptions by Emperor Taizong of the Song dynasty during his reign as Taiping. Or it might be the collection entitled Shenghui fang which was compiled by Chen Shiliang 陳士良, a native of Nantang 南唐. See CitationXie Guan 1921, p. 3572.
70 This is the Zhang Zihe rumen shiqin 張子和儒門事親, a collection of medical writings by Zhang Congzheng 張從正 (1156–1228), a celebrated physician of the Jin 晉 dynasty period, A.D. 1115–1234.
71 The Gujin luyan fang is lost, fragments were erroneously attributed to Chu Yushi 初虞世, a Northern Song physician.
72 This is a style of poetry in the writing of which there must be seven characters to a line, eight lines to a stanza, the second and fourth and the sixth and eighth rhyming. In translating these poems our aim has been to give the literal meaning without making any attempt to put the lines into meter or rhyme.
73 Sanhan 三韓, literally Three Han, is an ancient name for what is now southern Korea. In the Han dynasty period these were called Mahan 馬韓, Chenhan 辰韓, and Bianhan 弁韓. See Ciyuan, p. 33 under the yi 一 radical.
74 Fangzhang 方丈 and Penglai 蓬萊, with Yingzhou 瀛州, comprise the Three Isles of the Blest. These are islands famed in Chinese mythology and are popularly supposed to be located somewhere in the eastern seas.
75 This is a fanciful way of denoting the walnut, the allusion probably being to the fabulous peaches grown by the Xiwangmu 西王母 or Royal Mother of the West. See CitationMayers 1874, pp. 191–192 for an account concerning this remarkable personage.
76 The expression jiuqiu 九秋 or Nine autumns, is used to denote the autumn period of ninety days. See Ciyuan, p. 91 under the yi 乙 radical.
77 That is the crunching of many teeth while masticating the walnuts.
78 Sadula, a Mongol, lived from 1272 (or 1300) to 1355 and became known as a poet, calligrapher and painter. He was not particularly successful as a civil servant even though he passed the jinshi exam.
79 Qiaoshe 雀舌 or Swallow’s Tongue, is a term for tea sprouts. The ancient people called them by this name, meaning to denote their extremely small size and tenderness. See Ciyuan, p. 143 under the zhui 隹 radical.
80 Kong Rong, who is spoken of here, was a descendant of Confucius in the 20th degree. As he died A.D. 203, this statement constitutes a very early reference to the walnut in China. This quotation would seem to contradict Laufer’s statement that “even under the Han, no mention is made of the walnut.” See CitationLaufer 1919, p. 262.
81 This name is variously given as 紐謟 or 鈕謟 and Liu Tao 劉謟. Laufer regards the latter form as correct. See CitationLaufer 1919, p. 259, note 5.
82 In the commentary which occurs after this line as given in the original in the Wenxuan 文選 (Collection of choice specimens of literature) there is the following explanation: The san tao 三桃 or three tao are the houtao 侯桃 (a kind of peach), yingtao 櫻桃 (bastard cherry), and the hutao 胡桃 (Juglans regia, L.) See the Liu chen zhu Wenxuan 六臣註文選 (Commentary on the Wenxuan), juan 16, p. 8r, col. 3 (Sibu congkan ed.)
83 This work is credited to a man named Zhang Hua 張華 who lived A.D. 232–300.
84 There is a difference of opinion as to the authorship of this work. By some it is regarded as the work of Liu Xin 劉歆 of the Han dynasty. Others claim it to be the work of Ge Hong 葛洪 of the Jin 晉 dynasty and another opinion is that it was written by Wu Jun 吳均 of the 6th century.
85 The Chinese have used this term to denote the Roman empire. Giles’ Chinese-English Dictionary states that it denotes Upper Syria (CitationGiles 1912, p. 1296). Laufer translates this term by Hellenistic Orient.
86 In Taiping yulan 太平御覽, j. 972.
87 Imperial park containing the palaces of the ancient Wu Kingdom. It was situated in the northeastern part of what is now Jiangning 江寧 district in Jiangsu province.
88 According to CitationBretschneider 1882 this is a Song dynasty work. The book is not extant.
89 Li Shou was the fifth sovereign of the Cheng 成 dynasty. Han Bao seems to have had a sort of premonition of the impending fall of Qi, hence his cryptic request for seed with which to plant walnut trees and therefore retire before the blow was struck.
90 Wylie says that this work is ascribed to Feng Zhi 馮贄, of the tenth century. He also says that it probably was written by Wang Zhi 王銍at a later period. See CitationWylie 1867, p. 190.
91 This is Su Shi 蘇軾, one of the famous scholars and poets of the Song dynasty. He lived A.D. 1036–1101.
92 This seems to be another reference to the use of the meat of the walnut as a remedy to be used when children accidentally swallow copper coins. V.s. where this statement is made.
93 Shengjing here denotes one of the three provinces of Manchuria. Roughly speaking, it lies between latitude 40 to 45 and longitude 120 and 130. Only the shanhu tao or Wild walnut is mentioned in the “Wuchankao” or Description of the natural products sub-heading.
94 Wild walnut only mentioned.
95 Wild walnut only mentioned.
97 For this reason, Li Bo’s complete poetical works in Zach’s German translation were published a few years ago.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Hartmut Walravens
Hartmut Walravens was Library Director (Berlin State Library) and Privatdozent (lecturer) at the Freie Universität Berlin. His main research areas are: Bibliography, Qing dynasty, Manchu literature, history of printing in East Asia, portrait painting in Qianlong time, science transfer between China and Europe, and history of Oriental studies. He is author of numerous contributions on the above topics. He recently edited the following works: Berthold Laufer, Die amerikanische Pflanzenwanderung: Der Einfluss der Kulturpflanzen aus China und Amerika auf Europa im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert (Norderstedt: BoD, 2023); Ferdinand Lessing, Kleine Arbeiten zum chinesischen Theater und zum Buddhismus: Briefe an Irmgard und Reinhold Grimm (Norderstedt: BoD, 2023); (with Albert König), Papageien am chinesischen Kaiserhof und ihre Darstellung in Japan und Europa: Bilder und Beschreibungen eines kaiserlichen Vogelbuchs von 1761 im Kontext der Kulturgeschichte (Gossenberg: Ostasien Verlag, 2023).