324  THE  CHINESE  EMPIRE
The  first  mention  in  literature  is  in  the  “  Supplementary
Herbalist  ”  of  Chen  Tsang-chi,  an  author  writing  in  the  first
half  of  the  eighth  century,  who  quotes  from  an  earlier  lost
writer,  Sung  Yang-tze,  a  statement  that  “  the  poppy  has
four  petals,  white  or  red.  .  .  .  The  seeds  are  in  a  bag  (capsule
described)  .  .  .  being  like  those  of  millet."  At  this  time  the
Arabs  had  been  trading  with  China  for  a  full  century.  The
second  reference  is  in  the  “  Book  on  the  Culture  of  Trees  "
by  Kwo  To-to,  a  writer  of  the  latter  part  of  the  eighth  century
living  in  the  inland  province  of  Shensi.  The  poet  Yung  Tao,
a  resident  of  Szechwan  in  the  closing  years  of  the  Tang
Dynasty  (ended  906),  wrote  a  poem  describing  the  poppy
growing  in  the  plains  near  his  home.
Medicinal  Use
In  the  “  Herbalist’s  Treasury,"  composed  by  order  of
the  Emperor  by  a  commission  of  nine  in  973,  is  a  reference
to  the  medicinal  use  of  the  poppy  :  “  Its  seeds  have  healing
power.  When  men  .  .  .  they  may  be  benefited  by
mixing  these  seeds  with  bamboo  juice  boiled  into  gruel,
and  taking  the  mixture."  About  the  same  period  the
poet  Su  Tung-po  says  in  one  of  his  poems,  “  the  boy  may
prepare  for  you  the  broth  of  the  poppy."  His  brother  Su
Che  wrote  “  A  Poem  on  the  cultivation  of  the  medicinal
plant  Poppy,"  in  which  lie  says  :  “  I  built  a  house  on  the
west  of  the  city.  .  .  .  The  gardener  came  to  me  to  say
‘  The  poppy  is  a  good  plant  to  have.’  ...  Its  seeds  are  like
autumn  millet  ;  when  ground  they  yield  a  sap  like  cow’s
milk  ;  when  boiled  they  become  a  drink  fit  for  Buddha-Old
  men  whose  powers  have  decayed  .  .  .  should  take
this  drink.  Use  a  willow  mallet  and  a  stone  basin  t°
bruise  ;  boil  in  water  that  has  been  sweetened  with  honey-(When
  depressed)  then  I  have  but  to  drink  a  cup  °f
this  poppy-seed  decoction.  I  laugh  and  am  happy.  *
have  come  to  Yingchwan  (his  later  home)  and  am  wandering
on  the  banks  of  its  river.  I  seem  to  be  climbing  the  slop eS
of  Mount  Lu  (home  of  his  boyhood)  in  the  far  west."  l n
the  Herbalist  of  Su  Sung,  prepared  by  order  of  the  Emperor