Famine Relief Herbal (1593): Preface

First page of preface (first half-folio) from Jiuhuang bencao (The Famine Relief Herbal), edition of 1593 (21st year of the Wanli reign period of the Ming dynasty, Gui Si year). This herbal was compiled by Prince Zhu Su (?-1425), fifth son of the Ming Taizu Emperor (r. 1368-1398), the founder of the Ming dynasty. It was first engraved for publication in 1525. It contains entries on 414 edible plants, all of them illustrated. The author cultivated most of these plants in his gardens, and lived on the produce. This preface, written for Hu Wenhuan's Qiantang, edition explains the significance of the Famine Relief Herbal and the editors' intentions.

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