西瓜 수박 (서과)

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2

1. 性寒, 味甘極淡, 無毒.

   Its nature is cold, its flavor sweet yet very bland, and it carries no toxicity. In traditional medicine, a cold nature means the herb cools the body's internal heat.

2. 壓煩渴, 消暑毒,

   It relieves restless thirst and dispels summer heat toxins. It works as a natural cooler for bodies worn down by sweltering summer days.

3. 寬中下氣, 利小便.

   It soothes the middle burner, sends qi downward, and promotes urination. In other words, it eases bloating and helps the body flush out waste.

4. 治血痢, 療口瘡. 《入門》

   It treats bloody dysentery and heals mouth sores, as recorded in the Yixue Rumen (Introduction to Medicine).

5. 契丹破回紇, 得此種, 以牛糞覆而種之.

   When the Khitan defeated the Uyghurs, they obtained this seed and grew it by covering the ground with cow dung. This passage briefly traces how watermelon found its way into East Asia.

6. 其實圓大如瓠, 色如靑玉,

   The fruit is round and large like a gourd, with a color resembling green jade. It calls to mind the deep green watermelon we are all familiar with.

7. 子如金色, 或赤或黑, 或黑麻色.

   The seeds may be golden, sometimes red or black, or speckled like black sesame. The variety in seed color suggests that several cultivars were already known.

8. 北地多有之, 今則流播南北, 處處皆有之.

   Once abundant in the north, it has now spread across both south and north and can be found everywhere. In short, watermelon had taken root throughout the peninsula.

9. 六七月熟. 《日用》

   It ripens in the sixth or seventh lunar month, the heart of summer, as noted in the Riyong Bencao (Materia Medica for Daily Use).

10. 有一種楊溪瓜, 秋生冬熟,

    There is also a variety called Yangxi melon, which sprouts in autumn and ripens in winter. Its growing season runs opposite to that of the common watermelon.

11. 形略長匾而大, 瓤色臙紅.

    It is slightly elongated and flat in shape, yet large, with flesh the deep red of rouge. The description matches the bright red watermelon flesh we know today.

12. 味勝西瓜. 可留至次年夏間.

    Its flavor surpasses ordinary watermelon, and it can be kept until the following summer. It was, in other words, a prized variety that also stored remarkably well.

13. 或云, 異人遺種也. 《食物》

    Some say this variety came from seeds left behind by an extraordinary stranger, as recorded in the Shiwu Bencao (Materia Medica of Foodstuffs). A touch of legend, as often accompanies rare cultivars.