Qishe (Coiled into a disc, the head is triangular and flat, the tip of the nose points upwards, the mouth is wide and large, the back is brownish-brown, densely covered with rhomboid scales, the spine is exposed and protruding, the abdomen is white with larger scales and numerous black spots, the tail gradually tapers to a triangular end, fishy smell)
Qishe (Dragon head and tiger mouth, upturned nose, lozenge pattern, beaded spots, Buddha finger nail, loreal pit)
Qishe
Qishe
【Naming】
【Source】
Song Kaibao‧White-Flowered Snake
【Common Usage Level】
E
【Origin】
Qishe (White-Flowered Snake) is the dried body of the Hundred Pacer snake Agkistrodon acutus Guenther of the Crotalidae family, with its internal organs removed.
【Characteristics】
Qishe (White-Flowered Snake, Large White-Flowered Snake): The dried body is coiled into a disc shape, with the head in the center. The disc diameter is 18~25㎝, and the snake body diameter is about 3㎝. The head is triangular and flat, with the tip of the nose pointing upward and the mouth relatively wide, commonly known as “dragon head and tiger mouth”. The upper jaw has long fangs. The back is brownish-brown, densely covered with rhomboid scales, with 24 square grayish-white markings arranged longitudinally, commonly known as “lozenge pattern”. The abdomen is white with larger scales, dyed with numerous black spots, commonly known as “beaded spots”. The tail gradually tapers to a triangular, keratinized end, commonly known as “Buddha finger nail“. The internal abdomen is yellowish-white, the vertebrae are prominently protruding, with numerous ribs on both sides. It has a slightly fishy odor and a slightly salty taste.
【Processing】
1. White-Flowered Snake 2. Processed White-Flowered Snake 3. White-Flowered Snake Meat
【Identification】
“Zheng Lei Ben Cao”: “The white-flowered one is good”, “also, the one with non-sunken eyes is genuine.” “Ben Cao Gang Mu”: “[Gong said] Test method: Pick a millet-sized amount and put it in clean water. The one that floats on the water and swims around is genuine”, “Shizhen said: Produced in Lingnan, the one that doesn’t raise its head is genuine”. “Ben Cao Bei Yao”: “Produced in Qizhou, with a dragon head and tiger mouth, black body with white flowers, with twenty-four lozenge patterns, beaded spots on the abdomen, and a Buddha finger nail on the tail. Even when dead, the eyes do not dry out. Other products are not.” “Tai Yi Yuan Mi Cang Gao Dan Wan San Fang Ji”: “Qishe, the one with lifelike eyes is genuine.” “Liang Lie Jian Bie”: “The one with white square lozenge patterns on the back and round beaded patterns on the abdomen, with clear patterns and complete head and tail, is of the highest quality.”
【Identification Terminology】
1. Dragon head and tiger mouth, upturned nose,翘头: Refers to the Qishe’s head being large, triangular and flat, with the tip of the nose upturned, and the mouth relatively wide, like a “dragon head and tiger mouth”, also like an “upturned nose”.
2. Lozenge pattern: There are 24 “V”-shaped grayish-white rhomboid large markings composed of blackish-brown and light brown on both sides of the Qishe’s back, with the “V”-shaped apexes meeting on the midline of the back.
3. Beaded spots (linked beaded spots): Specifically refers to the numerous black circular patches on the white abdomen of the Qishe (Five-Step Snake).
4. Buddha finger nail: The Qishe’s tail gradually tapers, with the last segment being flat and triangular, and dark gray keratinized and hard.
5. Loreal pit (modern term): A depression on both sides of the head between the nasal pit and the eye in pit vipers. It is a deep depression on the maxilla, wider at the front and narrower at the back. Because its position is equivalent to the cheek, it is named as such.
【Chapter】
Vertebrate Class