Horned Gall

"Horned Gall" has not been heard of in the list of traditional Chinese famous things, and it is difficult to find its details in the ancient books. However, to speculate literally, "Horned" means "horned", and "Gall" means "gall, bile", etc., or refers to a certain kind of horn-shaped thing and something related to galls. I look at "Heavenly Gongkai", whose book contains the skills and products of hundreds of workers in detail, but I have searched for it everywhere, but I have not obtained the name "Horned Gall". In "Heavenly Gongkai", the galls of plants may be involved, but they are all described by local names. For example, some trees are gall due to insects, thinking that they are made of other materials or medicinal materials, but they are not the same as "Horned Gall". The cover of "Horned Gall" may be a specialty of a foreign land, not inherent in my Middle Earth. Or it is a word newly created in modern times, used to refer to a special biological phenomenon or product, which is not known to the ancients. If you want to know the truth, you may need to extensively study Western learning, search the dictionary of natural treasures, or consult overseas specialized creatures and natural wonders to obtain its true meaning. Although "Tiangong Kaiwu" is a treasure of Chinese science and technology, it is limited to time and place, and it is difficult to cover the name of all things in the world.

"Tiangong Kaiwu" says: "Horned insects are of different types." Among them, Horned Gall has various special signs. One of them has a unique shape. Its body has horns, and the horns are curved or straight, sharp or dull, and the length is also different. This horn is not just for decoration, but has practical ability. Its colors are many and colorful, or red or brown, and there are variegated colors between them. It is easy to distinguish between plants and trees. It is like carrying a logo to attract the attention of the viewer. Second, it has unique habits. It is often sent to specific plants and trees, and it chooses its branches to live in, and exists according to the nourishment of plants and trees. The season of its activities is also fixed, and it often takes advantage of the spring and autumn seasons, when the climate is warm and the vegetation is lush, to be active in the plants it depends on. In case of disturbance, it can be controlled by horns, or hidden in the gaps between the branches on the back of the leaves, and the self-protection ability is quite strong. Third, the formation is wonderful. Its birth is also, from the beginning of the micro-egg, it has undergone several changes, and gradually takes on the state of an adult. The shape of the egg is small and firm, and the color is hidden in the host plant, which is difficult to observe. The larvae are newly emerging, their bodies are soft and small, and they eat the juice of the host. They grow and grow stronger. Every time they shed their skin, they seem to be new. The horns also change with the growth of the body, and eventually become the shape of an adult insect. The Fourth, it also has its place in the ecology. Although parasitic on plants and trees, it is also the food of other insects or birds, and is a part of the ecological chain. And it may be beneficial to the host plants and trees. Those who are harmful, suck juice and damage the trees, causing them to wither; those who are beneficial, or promote the self-regulation of plants and trees, in subtle ways, maintain ecological balance.

Those who are horned are born in various forests and fields, and are more suitable in the natural environment of mountains and rivers. Watching the lush forests of the mountains and forests, the vegetation is abundant, and the horns can often grow according to them. The trees in the forest are lush and diverse, creating a good environment for the growth of horns. Horns depend on trees as the foundation and gather on the branches. In this realm, the sunlight is moderately transparent, neither direct exposure nor shade, which is suitable for the growth of horns. Sunlight penetrates the gaps in the leaves and sprinkles on the horns, supplying photosynthetic energy and promoting their growth. Furthermore, the mountains, forests and valleys with warm air are also suitable for the growth of horns. The water vapor in the air is dense, moist and nourishing, and the horns are twice as large as this, which can keep the body's surface moist, and breathe and metabolize smoothly. And in the valley, the wind is gentle, not strong and raging, so as to avoid it from being destroyed. There are streams and springs flowing by the bank, the water source is clear, the horns are twice as moist, the roots are developed and full of vitality. Water is not only the source of life, but also can regulate the surrounding microclimate, making the environment more suitable. As for the remote soil in the mountains, it is inaccessible to people, quiet and less disturbed, and the horns grow and multiply according to the natural rhythm. The dust-free world is noisy and chaotic, and no one interferes too much. It can show its true growth state under the pure natural ecology. Therefore, such secluded mountains, warm valleys, near streams and springs, and remote places are all suitable for the corner, allowing it to thrive in the world, according to nature, and achieve a unique scene of vitality.

Horned Gall has obvious advantages among similar products. Looking at its materials, the materials are well selected, all of them are collected from rare places, and have been screened in every way. The texture is tough and delicate, which is comparable to other things. For example, if you compare ordinary wood with Horned Gall, ordinary wood is soft and perishable, and Horned Gall can still keep it solid and motionless after years. Furthermore, its craftsmanship is breathtaking. The craftsmen all have peerless skills, and when making it, they are meticulously crafted and must be investigated. Taking carving as an example, the carving of other things is rough and blurry, and on the Horned Gall, the engraved pattern is lifelike, and the hair is full of hair, as if it is ready to come out. The second is the victory of this craft. And its function is also unique. Other things may only be used for a single purpose, but Horned Gall can have both functions. If it has the beauty of decoration, it can be placed in the hall, adding elegance to a room; if it has practical effect, or can be used as utensils to facilitate life, the third is the advantage of this function. And its unique color, natural and self-contained, warm and shiny, can be easily imitated without artificial. The color of other products is either gaudy but unbearable, or bleak and lifeless, but the color of Horned Gall is simple and elegant, and it lasts for a long time. This color is different from the fourth. As for its aroma, it is also unique. The fragrance it emits is quiet and elegant, calming people's minds, and smelling it is like being in a secluded forest. Other things may have no fragrance, or they are fragrant and pungent, but they are not as good as the fragrance of Horned Gall. This aroma is the fifth best. From this point of view, Horned Gall has significant advantages over other similar products in terms of material, craftsmanship, function, color, aroma, etc. It is a rare product.

There is no relevant record of "Horned Gall" in "Tiangong Kaiwu". It is speculated that it is "Horned Gall", which is a kind of gallnut. Horned Gall is an insect gall formed by the gall of the gall of the gall aphid on the leaves of salt-skin wood plants. It has important uses in traditional crafts. The following is its usage: The method of picking needs to be harvested at the right time. When the horn is mature, it is full in shape and yellowish-brown in color. Usually in autumn, it is better to pick it when the outer skin of the horn is turning from green to yellow and has not yet cracked. If it is picked too early, the ploid is not filled, and the active ingredients are insufficient; if it is too late, the double-cracking aphid will fly, and the quality will be damaged. The method of processing, to harvest the horn, first wash it with water to Then either bask in the sun, or bake it on a slight fire to dry it. When dry, pay attention to the heat and duration to prevent it from being too dry and broken, or not dry and rotten. There are also people who use the steaming method to process, put the horn double in the cage drawer, steam for a while, and then take it out to dry, which can make the active ingredients easier to preserve and precipitate. Medicinal method, horn double has many medicinal effects. Its taste is sour and astringent, and its cold nature belongs to the lungs, large intestine, and kidney meridians. It can be astringent to prevent diarrhea. In case of persistent diarrhea, an appropriate amount of horn double powder can be taken with warm water to restrain the intestines and relieve diarrhea. It can also restrain the lungs and relieve cough. For chronic cough with lung deficiency, it can be compatible with other cough-relieving medicinal materials, fried in soup and drunk in order to achieve the effect of restraining lung qi and relieving cough. In addition, Angle Double can also stop bleeding, and external use can treat trauma bleeding. It can be ground into a very fine end and sprinkled on the wound. It can quickly stop bleeding, and has the ability to converge the wound and prevent infection. For dyeing and weaving, Angle Double is rich in tannins, which is widely used in the dyeing and weaving industry. It can be used as a natural dye mordant to help the dye better adhere to the fabric. After treating the fabric with Angle Double, it is dyed with other natural dyes, and the color is more vivid and lasting. For example, when dyeing silk, the silk is first soaked in the horned solution, and then dyed with blue grass and other dyes to obtain blue silk with bright color and washable. On the way to tanning, in the leather tanning process, the horned tannins can be combined with the proteins in the leather, making the leather soft, tough and non-perishable. Soaking the raw skin in the tanning liquid containing horned ingredients, after multiple days of treatment, the raw skin is gradually transformed into usable leather, improving the quality and durability of the leather.