Agarwood in Ancient Texts: From Bencao Gangmu to Xiang Cheng

This article explores records of agarwood and other aromatic medicines in ancient Chinese texts such as Bencao Gangmu and Xiang Cheng, covering their medicinal properties, classification, and clinical applications, revealing the integration of traditional aroma studies and medicine.

Agarwood in Bencao Gangmu: Medicinal Properties and Meridians

In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu classified agarwood under the wood section, detailing its pungent, bitter, and warm nature, entering the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians. It was used to treat wind-edema, eliminate evil qi, and cure cholera. The text emphasizes agarwood's ability to treat 'upper heat and lower cold, qi rebellion and asthma, and large intestine deficiency constipation,' and includes several formulas containing agarwood. These records established agarwood's status in traditional medicine and provided core literature for medicinal research in the Agarwood Encyclopedia.

Xiang Cheng and Aroma Studies: Classification and Usage

Zhou Jiazhou's Xiang Cheng, a comprehensive work on ancient aroma studies, systematically organizes the sources, classification, processing, and blending of aromatic medicines. It categorizes agarwood into 'living knot,' 'ripe knot,' 'fallen,' and 'insect leak,' and describes the aromatic characteristics of different origins. These classifications align with modern quality assessment in the Identification Pillar Page. The book also contains numerous formulas, reflecting the diverse roles of aromatic medicines in daily life, rituals, and medicine.

Modern Implications of Ancient Aromatic Medicines: Identification and Inheritance

Ancient descriptions of aromatic medicines not only have historical value but also provide references for modern agarwood identification. For example, the records in Bencao Gangmu about agarwood being 'heavy, black, and sinking in water' remain key criteria for judging sinking-grade agarwood today. In Chinese Aroma Studies · Agarwood Identification, we combine ancient experience with scientific testing to more accurately assess authenticity and grade. Meanwhile, kyara, a rare type of agarwood, is also recorded as 'jia nan' in Xiang Cheng; see the Kyara Pillar Page for its unique status.

Conclusion: Contemporary Value of Ancient Aromatic Medicine Texts

From Bencao Gangmu to Xiang Cheng, the knowledge of aromatic medicines embodies the ancients' deep observation and application wisdom of nature. Today, by studying these classics, we can not only improve agarwood identification but also inherit Chinese aroma culture.

(This is industry observation and popular-science summary, not investment advice. Buy agarwood through legal channels with traceable, testable sources.)