Chixiu, also known as the owl, is a member of the owl family. It is also known as the horned owl, strange owl, old rabbit, wheel eagle, and night-eating eagle. The red horned owl is a species of owl in the Chixiu genus, with about 38 species worldwide and 4 species in China. Its bones or meat are used in traditional medicine. Let's learn more about the Chixiu owl.
【Physical Characteristics】
The Chixiu owl can grow up to 20 centimeters long. The upper body, including the surface of the wings and tail, is mostly gray-brown, with fine black-brown lines resembling worm tracks. The head and back are also mixed with brownish-white spots. The ear feathers are elongated and prominent, with a brown base and the same color as the top of the head at the feather tips. The facial disc is light gray-brown, scattered with fine black lines. It is surrounded by a faint brown collar. The feathers on the outer sides of the shoulders are mostly brown-white, with black-brown tips. Except for the innermost flight feathers, most of the outer sides of the flight feathers are black-brown, with brown-white or light gray-brown spots, forming a pattern resembling bars. The wing edges are white or slightly brown, and there are incomplete brown-white bars on the tail. The chin is brown-white. The rest of the lower body is gray-white, with fine gray-brown crossbars. The chest and sides have black-brown feather patterns, interspersed with brown-chestnut colors. The underwing and underwing coverts are mostly pure brown-white. The leg feathers are light brown, densely covered with brown spots, and the toes are gray.
【Habitat and Distribution】
The Chixiu owl lives in mountains, hiding during the day and coming out at night to feed on insects. It nests in tree holes. It is distributed in eastern China, extending west to Sichuan.
【Historical Records】
The "Bencao Shiyi" states that the Chixiu owl is a strange bird, resembling an owl with horns on its head. It comes out to hunt for food at night and hides in holes during the day. It is harmless when it stays in one place. If you hear its call, which sounds like laughter, you must leave immediately. Li Shizhen described the owl as black and yellow with spots, resembling a cat with two ears. Its sound is like an old person talking, starting with a sound like calling someone and then turning into laughter. Wherever it goes, it brings bad luck.
According to the "Cang Qi Shuo", the Chixiu owl is a strange bird resembling an owl. It comes out at night to hunt for food and hides in holes during the day. It is highly destructive, causing empty cities and empty rooms. It is harmless when it stays in one place. If you hear its call, which sounds like laughter, you must leave immediately. There is a similar bird called "Xun Hu" in the north. It makes a sound like calling its own name. Its eyes are the same as a cat's, and it is larger than a magpie. When it laughs, someone will die.
According to Li Shizhen, the Chixiu owl is black and yellow with spots. Its head resembles a cat and has two ears. Its sound is like an old person talking. Initially, it sounds like calling someone, but later it sounds like laughter. Wherever it goes, it brings bad luck. "Zhuangzi" records that the Chixiu owl can observe the finest details at night but cannot see mountains and rivers during the day.
【Value Introduction】
Medicinal Use
The Chixiu owl is mainly used for its meat or bones in traditional medicine. After hunting, the feathers and internal organs are removed. The fresh meat is cooked and eaten, and the bones are calcined and ground into powder for storage. The fried meat of the Chixiu owl can be used to treat malaria. When roasted and ground into powder, it can be used to treat rodent fistula, epilepsy, and loss of appetite.
According to "Jilin Medicinal Plants," it is used to treat dysphagia: two young owls without feathers are covered in yellow clay, calcined, and finely ground. Mix with warm wine and drink, 6g per dose, 2 times a day.
Food Therapy
According to "Benjing Fengyuan," it is used to treat fatigue: roast and dry the Chixiu owl with alcohol, steam it with seven eels spread on mint leaves until soft, and mix with 500g of Chinese yam to make pills. Take on an empty stomach, 9g each time.
When most people hear the word "Chixiu," they mainly think of the Pinyin pronunciation, but few people know what it actually refers to. After the above explanation, you should have a rough understanding that Chixiu is actually the owl we commonly refer to, but it is called Chixiu in the context of traditional medicine.
