Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑)
Heo Jun · published 1613It records that agarwood is “warm in nature and non-toxic.”
It records that “agarwood nourishes all qi (氣), rising to the crown of the head and descending to Yongquan (湧泉) on the sole of the foot.”
THREE GREAT SCENTS
Materials whose names end in “xiang”
The classical materia medica list a number of materials whose names end in xiang (香, “fragrance”): agarwood, musk, mudanxiang, ambergris and benzoin among them.
Three of these, agarwood (沈香), musk (麝香) and ambergris (龍涎香), were held in particular esteem and are known as the three great scents of the world. All three are intensely fragrant, and all are used only in very small amounts.
| Name | Origin |
|---|---|
| Agarwood (沈香) | Resin of the agarwood tree (Aquilaria) |
| Musk (麝香) | Secretion from the scent gland of the musk deer |
| Ambergris (龍涎香) | Intestinal secretion of the sperm whale |
CLASSICAL TEXTS
What the old texts record
The passages below are renderings of the original texts. They are historical records of how people in the past understood agarwood.
Bencao Gangmu (本草綱目)
Li Shizhen · published 1596It records: “Because the heartwood and knots sink when placed in water, it is called chenshui (沈水, ‘sinking in water’), or also shuichen (水沈). Pieces that half sink are called zhanxiang (棧香), and those that do not sink are called huangshuxiang (黃熟香).”
Jingyue Quanshu (景岳全書)
Zhang Jiebin · 1624It records that agarwood is “pungent in taste and slightly warm in nature.”
It records that “agarwood belongs to yang (陽), yet it both raises and lowers.”
Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (本草綱目拾遺)
Zhao Xuemin · 1765It records that “agarwood harmonizes the energies of yin and yang, and both raises and lowers qi. Outwardly it reaches the skin and hair; inwardly it enters the marrow.”
Bencao Yanyi (本草衍義)
Kou Zongshi · 1116It records: “Used gently, it brings benefit and no harm.”
Boncho Jeonghwa (本草精華)
It records that “agarwood clears the spirit.”
Geubyubang (及幼方)
It records that “agarwood lowers qi and warms the interior.”
Byeolcho Danbang (別抄單方)
It records that “agarwood supplements a deficiency of the fire (火) of the mingmen (命門, ‘gate of life’).”
· These quotations are presented as historical records only. They do not describe the effects or benefits of any product.
· More classical texts on Korean medicine can be found in the Catalog of Classical Texts on Korean Medicine (in Korean) published by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.
GORYEO
Medicinal materials from the Song court
Volume 9 of the “Hereditary Houses” (Sega) section of the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo) records that the Song emperor sent physicians and medicinal materials to King Munjong of Goryeo. At the head of the accompanying list is Qiongzhou agarwood (瓊州 沈香) from Hainan Island. In return, Goryeo is said to have sent wild ginseng. The passage shows that agarwood was regarded as a material as precious as Goryeo’s wild ginseng.