Classification of ganoderma lucidum
The working people in ancient China had a simple understanding of Ganoderma lucidum, and there were many records about Ganoderma lucidum in Shan Hai Jing. With the deepening of understanding, the ancients made a simple classification of Ganoderma lucidum discovered at that time.
Classification by color: Medical books such as Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, Baopuzi, and Notes on Materia Medica are mainly divided into six branches according to color, namely, Qingzhi, Zhi Zhi, Huang Zhi, Baizhi, Heizhi and Zizhi. And vividly described them. Ge Hong said: "Red people are like coral, white clothes are like fat, black people are like paint, green people are like jade feathers, and yellow people are like purple and gold, all of which are bright and beautiful, such as hard ice."
The appearance of Herry Liu is undoubtedly the development of ancient people's understanding of Zhi Zhi. It should be pointed out that the current understanding of "Six Records" is a group concept, each of which represents a group. The so-called "Ganoderma lucidum" of the ancients must not be confused with Ganoderma lucidum in today's fungal classification. Refers to Ganoderma lucidum and related species, and some also include other fungi of Polyporales and Agaricus, especially those in Taoist classics. Today, it is difficult for us to give accurate Latin names to the representative species of ancient classes by modern fungal taxonomy.
Classification by efficacy: this is actually a classified introduction to the different functions of six branches. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen classified "Liuzhi" according to its nature, taste and medicinal function. In Compendium of Materia Medica, he inherited the previous research results, criticized the myths and legends about Ganoderma lucidum, and made a deeper study of Ganoderma lucidum. In his book, he recorded and listed the medicinal properties of six kinds of Ganoderma lucidum: Qingzhi, Zhi Zhi, Baizhi, Huang Zhi, Heizhi and Zizhi, and pointed out: "There are many kinds of Ganoderma lucidum, and there are also flowers. Materia Medica only uses the slogan of six branches, but its species are indispensable. " More than 30 kinds of fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum are recorded in the book, and his research and summary have laid a solid foundation for future generations to study Ganoderma lucidum. Tang Xinxiu's Herbal Medicine (659) was considered as an important pharmacopoeia for recording "Six Branches" fungi in ancient China, and its medicinal use was also described in detail.
Classification by texture: Ge Hong divided the system into five types according to texture, namely, stone system, Mu Zhi system, meat system, Jun system and Cao system, and drew sketches of the five systems. In Baopuzi, a fairy medicine, Ganoderma lucidum is divided into five fingers, and its ecological habits, collection and medicinal value are recorded in detail. Its cultural day: "There are five kinds of cheese, Shi Zhi, Mu Zhi, Cao Zhi, Rouzhi and Mushroom Zhi, each with hundreds."
Identification according to the morphological map: this is also a way for the ancients to know and identify Ganoderma lucidum. Many doctors draw the morphological map of Ganoderma lucidum on the basis of physical observation. For example, there are more than 100 kinds of Ganoderma lucidum in Bao Puzi Neipian and Xian Yao Pian, and maps are drawn. It is also pointed out in the preface of "The Treasure of Mount Tai": "There are many forms of wisdom and English, which are really difficult to distinguish. So draw a picture and record it, and post it, please ask for it. " The book contains Ganoderma lucidum 103 species with maps. In the Song Dynasty, Fungus Spectrum also drew a picture of Ganoderma lucidum.
Modern Understanding of the Classification of "Six Branches"
The ancients classified Ganoderma lucidum as "six branches" according to the color of its fruiting body. According to the classification of modern biology, it is very difficult or even impossible to "accommodate" six branches with all varieties of Ganoderma lucidum. So far, only Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma lucidum are relatively certain.
Professor Zhao from the Institute of Microbiology, China Academy of Sciences summarized the comparative analysis of "Liuzhi" and its related species according to the modern biological classification method as follows:
Ganoderma lucidum, also known as Danzhi, is produced in Huoshan, which is bitter, flat and nontoxic. Indications are chest knot, which can benefit the heart, tonify the middle energizer, increase wisdom, never forget for a long time, strengthen the body and prolong life. Ganoderma lucidum, which we are most familiar with today, may be the representative variety of this kind. Similar to ganoderma lucidum, there are ganoderma lucidum and so on. The main manifestations are the kidney shape, semicircle or nearly round shape of the cap, the surface of the cap is brownish yellow and brownish red, and the surface of the stipe is smooth, which is the same color or deeper than the cap.
Ganoderma lucidum, also known as Mu Zhi, was born in the high summer valley. It is sweet, warm and nontoxic. Indications for deafness, benefiting joints, benefiting qi, strengthening bones and muscles, improving complexion, and treating fatigue and hemorrhoids. It can be considered that Ganoderma lucidum (China Ganoderma lucidum) is the representative species of this kind. The main characteristics are that the mushroom body is brown, purple-black to nearly black, the mushroom meat is uniform brown to chestnut, and the basidiospore is larger than Ganoderma lucidum.
Huang Zhi, also known as Jinzhi, is produced in Songshan Mountain. It is sweet, flat and non-toxic. It indicates five evils in the heart, which can benefit the temper and soothe the nerves. According to Ge Hong's description in Bao Pu Zi, there are five kinds of meat cheese: red, white, black, blue and yellow. The yellow one is like Zijin, the largest one is more than 5 kilograms, and the smallest one is 1500-2000 grams. It can be considered that Porphyra sulphureus is the representative strain of Ganoderma lucidum. This fungus has a lot of meat when it is fresh, and fresh specimens often weigh several kilograms, which turn yellow and become hard and brittle when they are old.
White matter, also known as Yuzhi, is produced in Huashan Mountain, which is pungent, flat and non-toxic. Indications: Reversing qi to relieve cough, benefiting lung qi, dredging mouth and nose, strengthening mind and calming nerves. White matter is described as "reducing fat" in Bao Puzi, so the medicinal fungus Pleurotus eryngii may belong to this category. This fungus is white and horseshoe-shaped and can weigh several kilograms. It is born on pine trees and other conifers.
Heizhi, also known as Xuanzhi, is produced in Changshan, which is salty, flat and non-toxic. Indications: Benefiting the waterway, benefiting kidney qi, dredging nine orifices, and observing attentively. According to the "Art and Color Records", black ganoderma lucidum was born in the valley shade, covered with red, with black stems and salty and bitter taste. According to the above records, black ganoderma lucidum may be a kind of fake ganoderma lucidum, with black cover and long black handle when fresh. It may also be a black-stalked polyporus and a black-stalked fungus.
Qingzhi, also known as Longzhi, is produced in Taishan Mountain and tastes sour, flat and non-toxic. Indications: improving eyesight, nourishing liver qi and calming nerves. In Bao Puzi, it is recorded that "a teenager is like a jade feather". Coriolus versicolor may be Ganoderma lucidum. This fungus also has a leather cap and short hair on the surface, so the color changes are rich, similar to the description of "Ganoderma lucidum as jade feather" in Bao Puzi.