Painting of the xichi duck in the meticulous (gongbi) style, in colour on silk, from Bencao tupu (Illustrated Herbal). The painted illustrations in Bencao tupu were jointly executed by Zhou Hu and Zhou Xi in 1644 (the final year of the Ming period). The explanatory texts were provided by Zhou Rongqi. The book was not completed: each volume was to have contained 14-15 paintings, but only 29 are extant.
Zhou Rongqi writes: The xichi [an unidentified water fowl resembling the mandarin duck] is also known as zi yuanyang (purple mandarin duck). It is small in size, like a duck. It has multicoloured plumage, with feathers like hat ribbons on its head, and tail feathers like the rudder of a boat. The male and female live as a couple. The flesh is sweet in sapor, neutral in thermostatic character, and non-poisonous, and has the medicinal effects of tonifying and replenishing Qi and blood. It was used by the ancients to treat Qi deficiency (qi xu) and weakness of the blood, physical frailty and emaciation, etc.
