Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t4: Clover

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t4

Language: English

Clover

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In the family Leguminosae, *muxu* (clover) is a general term for wild flowering annual and perennial herbs which belong to the genus, *Medicago*. Its Latin name is *Medicago sativa Linn*. It is also called ‘Musu’ (here ‘su’ represents different characters in Chinese), Guangfeng Grass, Huaifeng Grass and Lianzhi Grass. With its introduction from India and the Western Regions (present-day Xinjiang), clover was gradually developed into a common native product in China from an exotic plant.

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The word for clover (Muxu) in Chinese is actually a transliteration of a foreign word. In *Sino-Iranica*, B. Laufer adduced its origin as buksuk or buxsux in Persian, burchak in Turkic or buso in Jirachi (a Caspian dialect). However, it is not conclusive. In Chinese versions of Buddhist scriptures, various transliterations of it were listed, such as, Muxuxiang (fragrance of clover), also known as Saibeilixiang (*Murti Mandala and Incantation Sutra*), Muxuxiang, i.e. Saibilijia (Volume 7, *Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sutra* translated by Yijing), Sabilijia, also called Muxu in Persian (Volume 5, *Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra*) and (Sa)bilijia, Muxuxiang (*Most Secret, Well-Established Dhāraṇī of the Vast Gem-Encrusted Tower* translated by Bodhiruci). According to the collation of the Chinese version with the original *Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sutra*, Saibeilixiang, and Sabilijia were all transliterated from ‘Sprikka’. They were the same terms used in two sutras of the Tang Dynasty; according to Li Yan’s *Miscellaneous Names in Sanskrit*, ‘Muxu, is a transliteration of svista’ and the *Chinese-Sanskrit Buddhist Dictionary* also followed the same wording. In any case, *muxu* is no doubt a foreign word regardless of its various transliterations.

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Clover

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Clover has many varieties and the most famous one is Medicago sativa which was used to feed livestock. The Chinese work *Compendium of Materia Medica*, says, “The plant grows from its perennial root and can feed cattle and horses.” Clover originated from Persia and was introduced to India and various countries in the Western Regions. Kophen produced clover along with sandalwood trees, pagoda trees, Catalpa trees, bamboo and so forth. In Dayuan (present-day Ferghana in Central Asia), horses loved eating clover. It is said that the herb was introduced from the Western Regions after the famous envoy Zhang Qian went there during the Wudi Emperor’s reign in Han Dynasty. After that, clover gardens appeared in the capital of Chang’an. As recorded in Volume 1 of *Record of the Western Regions* in the *History of the Han Dynasty*, after Dayuan was conquered, the King of Dayuan offered their horses as tribute and the Han envoys brought back grape and clover seeds. The clover seeds later spread as horse feed from the Northwest to many other regions of China. In Tang poet Wang Wei’s poem, entitled *Seeing Lieutenant Liu Off to the Protectorate of the Pacified West*, it is mentioned, “Clover together with steeds were introduced into China; grapes were brought back by Han envoys.” Another Tang poet, Bao Fang, depicted the same scene in two lines in his *Random Thoughts*, “From time to time, the heavenly horses feed on alfalfa, ‘Hu ren’ (the non-Han people from the Western Regions) for years have offered their best grape wines!”

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Upon its introduction into central China, clover not only served as horse feed but was also used as a herb and food. Its medical functions were seen in Tao Hongjing’s *Alternative Records of Famous Physicians*. In the Tang work *Materia Medica for Dietotherapy*, it was written that clover can be mixed with sauce or used for cooking porridge or congee. It can “benefit the organs and help one keep fit. Also, it can clear away harmful heat (‘qi’) and free the small intestine to remove heat-toxin.” In Yuan Dynasty, it was widely planted to feed the huge number of horses needed by the regime’s military operations. Besides, the prescription to make clothes fragrant recorded in Sun Simiao’s work *Valuable Prescriptions for Emergency*, also used clover fragrance.

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*(Chen Ming)*

Linked texts (1)

Suvarṇaprabhāsottamasūtra — Sanskrit