Ancient Traditions: Artemisia Wine and Hanging Calamus

Artemisia Wine

　　In my hometown, there has been a tradition of inserting artemisia, hanging calamus, and drinking realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival. Perhaps due to the toxicity of realgar, the custom of drinking realgar wine is now rare, but the tradition of inserting artemisia and hanging calamus is still very popular.

　　I remember that before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, my mother would cut a large bundle of artemisia from the backyard and give it to the neighbors. There is a river on the west side of my house, which is full of calamus. In the summer, children would pick calamus sticks from the shore, eat the tender ones, and play with the old ones. It is effortless to pull out a few calamus roots.

　　On the front door of my house, my mother would insert artemisia and hang calamus during the Dragon Boat Festival, saying that it can ward off evil spirits. Although the so-called warding off evil spirits is a legend, it also has a scientific basis. After the Dragon Boat Festival, the midsummer is coming, mosquitoes and flies breed, and diseases spread. Therefore, personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness are essential at this time. Artemisia, calamus, and some other medicinal plants are very beneficial for removing impurities and purifying the air.

　　As early as in the book "Mencius" in ancient China, there was a saying "seeking three years of artemisia for a seven-year illness." Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" also recorded that "artemisia expels cold, eliminates dampness. For elderly people with weak energy in the lower abdomen and fear of cold in the chest and abdomen, cooked artemisia is put into their belly button, and the effect is amazing." Modern clinical practice has proved that artemisia is still very effective in treating rheumatism. The water celeryene and taxifolin in artemisia have certain killing and inhibitory effects on human tuberculosis bacteria, typhoid bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, adenovirus, influenza virus, etc. Calamus is a specific medicine for treating mutism and dysentery in ancient medical formulas, and people still use it to treat dysentery today.

　　Realgar, also known as orpiment, is a mineral. "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" says, "Realgar has a bitter and slightly cold taste. It is used to treat cold and heat, furuncles, ulcers, hemorrhoids, necrotic tissue, sterilize evil spirits, poisonous insects, and win over five weapons. When consumed, it lightens the body and makes one immortal." People used to drink realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival to eliminate evil spirits. Even today, there is a saying in our place: "After drinking realgar wine, all illnesses will go away." However, due to the toxicity of realgar, drinking realgar wine is no longer practiced. But the custom of sprinkling realgar water in the house and courtyard, as well as applying realgar on the noses, ears, and foreheads of children, still exists. This also reflects the deep hatred of pests and the serious attitude towards disease prevention and treatment of the people in our hometown, who keep up with the times.

　　Since realgar wine is no longer available, people now make artemisia wine and calamus wine. Recently, when I read "The Plum in the Golden Vase," I found that when Wu Yueniang was five months pregnant, she fell and the fetus died in her abdomen. She took artemisia wine as medicine to expel the dead fetus. Traditional Chinese medicine also believes that artemisia can nourish blood, warm the uterus, dispel cold and dampness, and treat menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, miscarriage, and excessive vaginal discharge in women. People in the countryside may not understand these benefits, but they know that using dried artemisia to fumigate mosquitoes and flies is hygienic, environmentally friendly, and has minimal toxic side effects.

　　I have tasted the calamus wine brewed by San Ye. It has a refreshing and cool taste with a lingering fragrance. It reminds me of Ouyang Xiu's "Poem on Dragon Boat Festival": "Drinking calamus wine together, the emperor's longevity for ten thousand springs." Of course, my favorite is still to put calamus in a vase with water, place it indoors for appreciation. This may be influenced by the great scholar Su Dongpo, who said, "Wash away the dirt, soak in clean water, and place it in a basin. It can last for several years without withering. Although it does not grow lush, its leaves are tough, and its roots are connected. It looks beautiful on the desk for a long time."

　　Of course, the tradition of inserting artemisia and hanging calamus is not only in the countryside but also prevalent in the city. Even in the Jia family in "Dream of the Red Chamber," they would "hang calamus and artemisia at the door, and tie a tiger token to their arm." This Dragon Boat Festival, I will definitely bring a bundle of artemisia and bring some calamus back to my hometown. I will hang artemisia on the door and place calamus indoors, letting the fragrance of the Dragon Boat Festival spread among the neighbors and dye my childhood green. (Liu Shaoyi)