Illustration of 'Qingming water' from Shiwu bencao (Materia dietetica), a dietetic herbal in four volumes dating from the Ming period (1368-1644). The identity of the author and artists is unknown. It contains entries on over 300 medicinal substances and is illustrated by almost 500 paintings in colour.
Qingming (Pure Brightness) is one of the 24 solar terms of the year. River water collected on the day of the Qingming festival (around early April) is called Qingming water. The illustration shows a man collecting Qingming water from a river. The fallen peach blossom on the river bank, and the willow trees just coming into leaf serve to evoke the time of year.
The text states: River water on Qingming day, also known as Grain Rain (guyu) day water, is sweet in sapor. Liquor made with it has a dark purple colour and a clear, clean flavour.
