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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t7: Bhallataka

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t7

Language
English

Bhallataka

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Bhallataka is a kind of anacardiaceae plant in India. Its Latin scientific name is Semecarpus anacardium L. and its fruit, stem and oil can all be used as medicine. Its translated English name is Marking-Nut which means Semecarpus fructus. Bhallataka is one of the medicines introduced to China from ancient India.

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In the translated Chinese version of Buddhist scriptures, the transliterated names of *Bhallataka* include “Boluodejia” (Volume II of the *Scriptures of Powerful Wushuse King Moming* translated by Ajitasena, Tripitaka of India, north to China in Tang Dynasty), *Baluodeji* (Volume I of *Suxi Jieluo Scriptures* translated by Shujiapoluo, Tripitaka of India of Tang Dynasty), *Baluodeji* (Volume I of *Suxi Jieluo Scriptures*) and *Poluodajia* (Volume 17 of Fundamental Shrauta *sutra* of Generous Manjushri translated by Tianxizai of Northern Song Dynasty) and the translated names are “Indian lacquer wood” and “dye wood”.

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In literature on traditional Chinese medicine of the Tang and Song Dynasties, this medicine has two names, “Poluode” and “Poluole”. The etymology of the latter one may be Tocharian language *bhallāràk*. The properties of this medicine was firstly recorded in the Gleaning Chinese Materia Medica written by Chen Cangqi of Tang Dynasty: “Poluode, with acrid flavour, warm and non-toxic, is mainly for cool air mass, warming the middle, nourishing waist and kidney and breaking the hypochondroium abdominal mass. It can dye moustache and hair into black. Its tree is like willow and seed is like castor bean. It grows in Western countries.” *Bhallataka* was listed as a newly added medicine in *Precious Herbs* of early Song Dynasty. The “prescription of change of white hair and moustache in *Recent Effect*” of *Medical Secrets of an Official* (Volume 32) written by Wang Tao of Tang Dynasty, “prescription of lead comb for black moustache and hair” and “prescription of permanent maintenance of black-dyed moustache and hair” in *Imperial Benefits of Time of Peace and Prosperity* (Volume 41) written by Wang Huaiyin et al. of Song Dynasty and F043 “prescription of change of hair” in Dunhuang mainly use this medicine to dye moustache and hair. The records of this medicine in works of traditional Chinese medicines and herbs after Tang and Song Dynasties basically repeated that in Gleaning Chinese Materia Medica and didn’t add new knowledge. The pictures of bhallataka described in *Herb Essentials* and *Addendum of Tripterygium Wilfordii Preparation Enchiridion* of Ming Dynasty are not the material description of this medicine but artistic imagination. Ancient Japanese scholars’ knowledge of bhallataka mainly derived from doctors of central China such as the *Records of Herb Colour leaves* by Weizong Jujun and *Introduction of Herb Family* by Songgang Xuanda.

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In the medical books of ancient ayurveda system, such as *Caraka-samhita*, *Susruta-samhita* and *Astanga-hrdaya-samhita*, bhallataka is one of the common medicines. The prescriptions prepared with it, such as bhallataka crisp and bhallataka oil, are mainly used for *rasayana-tantra* and hair blacking. Bhallataka is also used in many *sadhana* drubtabs of Esoteric Buddhism. It can be found from the unearthed documents that *The Bower Manuscript* excavated in Kuqa and *Jivaka-pustaka* and *Siddhasara* excavated in Dunhuang all include prescriptions of bhallataka. This medicine was used by doctors of the main stations of Silk Road including Tochara (present-day Sinkiang), Khotan (located at the south edge of Tarim Basin), Tubo (present-day Tibet) and Uygur (present-day Sinkiang) and transmitted to Dunhuang and central China. The use of it undoubtedly influenced traditional Chinese doctors of Tang and Song Dynasties. They used bhallataka for hair blacking, which reflected the general mood of society of Tang and Song Dynasties namely pursuing longevity.

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Ancient bhallataka was also transmitted to Persia (present-day Iran), Arab, Greece and Rome. Doctors mainly use its juice or fruit as medicine to treat the discomfort of central nervous system, epilepsy and improve memory. The herb works and medical prescription collections such as *Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb* by Ibn Sina, *Al-Saydanah fi’l-tibb* by Al-Biruni, *Al-Kulliyyat* by Ibn Rushd (Averroes in Latin), *Kitab al-jami’fi-mufradat al-adwiya wa al-aghdhiya* by Ibn Al Baytar and *The Small Dispensatory* by Sabur Ibn Sahl all record the properties and usage of bhallataka. Bhallataka was also called *habb ai-fahm* (nut of apprehension) and famous for its capability of enhancing and improving memory. The use of bhallataka by Islam medical science was transmitted to China again through *Huihui Formularies* of Yuan Dynasty. The remaining volumes of *Huihui Formularies* have reserved two groups of names of bhallataka namely the translations of Arabic baladhur and Persian baladur, “Baladu’er”, “Biladi’er”, “Biladu’er” and “Boladi’er” and translations of Arabic anaghardiya or *anaqardiya* (Greek anacardia), “Anha’erdiya” and “Anjia’erdiya”. The related medical prescriptions in *Huihui Formularies* such as “Dabiladi’ermazhun”, “Biladi’ermazhun”, “Xiaobiladi’ermazhun”, “Mazhunbiladi’er”, “Mazhunibaladu’er”, “Anha’erdiya” and “Dawawuxisana” can basically be deemed as the interpretations of bhallataka prescriptions from Islam medical works in China.

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The spread of bhallataka in our country has two different historical periods and respectively came from Indian medical science (including Buddhist medical science) and Islam medical science but the source is actually Indian ayurveda. Although bhallataka is not a very famous medicine, its use and spread process are quite complex and from which we can get a glimpse of the diversity of influences of ancient Indian medical culture to medical sciences of many East and West areas.

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*(Chen Ming)*

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