Discrimination of Flavour in a Late 19th Century Bencao.

This article presents selected excerpts from the Běncǎo Wèndá (Questions and Answers on the Materia Medica, 1896) by Táng Zōnghǎi, which was one of the last běnc ǎo (materia medica) to be published during the Qing dynasty. It contains discussion on many different topics, but is noteworthy for Táng's ingenious and nuanced understanding of the flavour and nature of herbs and the natural world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]