Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t7.3

v1.c5.s2.t7.3

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.