Original Article
Looking for the roots of Wa Na Qi
ZHAO Zhong-zhen, DUAN Xu, KANG Shuai, LIU Jing
Published 2020-09-28
Cite as Chin J Med Hist, 2020, 50(5): 267-274. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112155-20200704-00105
Abstract
Wa Na Qi(腽肭脐), is a traditional-curing male impotence medicinal. We have made several conclusions through a field investigation to Antarctica, material medica literature research, and current market investigation. Throughout history, Wa Na Qi (also known as海狗肾haigou shen) was a word of vague connotation which was not the meaning of a specific product. However, the most common meaning of Wa Na Qi was the penises of several different species of seals. The name Wa Na Qi was adapted from a foreign word, and it is believed to sound like walrus, which has also been credited as a source for Wa Na Qi. In Chinese, Wa Na was a reference to the roundness of the walrus but eventually became a general description of heaviness. Later, it became a name for fur seals. The Song Dynasty Materia Medica Bencao Tujing(本草图经, Illustration of Materia Medica) and the Ming Dynasty Materia Medica Bencao Pinhui Jingyao(本草品汇精要, Collected Essentials of Species of Materia Medica) both had animal illustrations resembling fur seals. The illustrations in the Compendium of Materia Medica, or Bencao Gangmu, Jinling edition also had characteristics of a fur seal. However, in the Buyi Leigong Paozhi Bianlan(补遗雷公炮制便览, Lei Gong's Guide to Drug Preparation with Addenda) and later materia medica works, the animal illustrations became distorted and almost myth-like. After a field investigation in Antarctica, we learned that historically, name Wa Na Qi probably originated from seals, such as fur seals. This information matches the current medicines available on the market.
Key words:
Wa Na Qi; seals; fur seals; Antarctica
Contributor Information
ZHAO Zhong-zhen
School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
DUAN Xu
Natural History Culture Center, Hong Kong 999077, China
KANG Shuai
Institute for Quality Control of Chinese Traditional Medicine and Ethnic medicine, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, China
LIU Jing
School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China