Yaohui tukao (Illustrated Congregation of Drugs), published in 1935 (24th year of the Republic of China), presents the materia medica in dramatic form. It consists of ten scenes, in which various drugs appear as protagonists.
This illustration accompanies Scene 9, Fan biezi zaofan (Nux Vomica Stages a Revolt), in which characters personifying nux vomica (fan biezi, lit 'the foreign turtle'), malt syrup (yitang) and arc shell (walengzi) present the sapors, potencies, and therapeutic uses of various drugs through the medium of spoken dialogue and song.
Malt syrup tonifies the centre and replenishes Qi. Dragon's teeth (fossilised teeth) calm the mind and settle fright. Job's tears (yimi, coix lacryma-jobi) invigorates the spleen and dispels damp. Chinese lovage (gaoben, ligusticum sinense) dispels wind and alleviates pain. Persimmon calyx (shidi) sets Qi in motion and brings down retrograde Qi. Tingli (Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae) purges the lung and relieves wheezing. Morning glory seed (qianniu zi) expels water by purgation. Chinese honeylocust spine (zao jiaoci, spina Gleditsiae) drives out poisons and drains pus. Winged euonymus twig (guijianyu) kills parasites and alleviates pain. Portulaca (machixian) clears heat and gets rid of damp… Altogether, this scene introduces about 30 drugs.
