Yao Grass (瑶草) is a type of mythical plant which appears in
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of t ...
, of which there were two types. It is one of various mythical plants encountered in Chinese myths. Two types of Yao Grass are attested to in the ''
Shanhaijing
The ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', also known as ''Shan Hai Jing'', formerly romanized as the ''Shan-hai Ching'', is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Early versions of the text may have existed sinc ...
''.
Guyao Mountain Yao Grass
One type grew on Guyao Mountain: this type of Yao Grass acted as a type of love potion, which would cause a person who ate it attract the love of others. This type was described as having lush leaves, yellow flowers and fruit like
dodder
''Cuscuta'' (), commonly known as dodder or amarbel, is a genus of over 201 species of yellow, orange, or red (rarely green) parasitic plants. Formerly treated as the only genus in the family Cuscutaceae, it now is accepted as belonging in the ...
. It originated as a transformation of
Yan Di
The Yan Emperor () or the Flame Emperor was a legendary ancient Chinese ruler in pre-dynastic times. Modern scholarship has identified the Sheep's Head Mountains (''Yángtóu Shān'') just north of Baoji in Shaanxi Province as his homeland and ...
's daughter
Yaoji
Yaoji (), also known as Yunhua (), is a Chinese goddess. She is the mother of Erlang Shen and younger sister of the Jade Emperor. A shaman and master herbalist, Yaoji is responsible for the presence of many medicinal herbs on Earth. She is a prote ...
after her death.
Taishi Mountain Yao Grass
Another type of Yao Grass grew at Taishi Mountain: this type when used produced an effect of mental clarity, preventing confusion of the mind. This type was similar to the
Atractylodes
''Atractylodes'' is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
Species
''Atractylodes'' is native to eastern Asia.
* '' Atractylodes amurensis'' – Korea, Amur
* '' Atractylodes carlinoides'' – Hubei
* '' Atractylodes japoni ...
, with white flowers and black fruits.
[Yang, 230]
See also
*
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of t ...
Notes
References
*Yang, Lihui, ''et al.'' (2005). ''Handbook of Chinese Mythology''. New York: Oxford University Press.
{{Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology