It has a vine-like plant with green leaves and yellow flowers, which the natives of Juxian (Yanling) call "king medicine" or "broken intestine grass". It is said that Emperor Yan died of poisoning by tasting this grass by mistake.
In 4473 BC, Emperor Yan came to Qiaotou Ridge in Bailuyuan and found a small grass with yellow flowers under the stone cliff, and he called Hu Zhenguan and said: "Wait, let me pick that small grass with yellow flowers and taste it." Seeing that it was late, Hu Zhenguan persuaded: "It's not early, come back another day." Emperor Yan said: "It doesn't matter, it will be picked at once." Saying that, he pulled away the weeds, climbed the branches, came to the bottom of the stone cliff, carefully pulled out the small grass, washed it in the spring water, and put it in his mouth to taste. Hu Zhenguan asked, "How is it?" Emperor Yan said, "This..." Before he finished speaking, he felt uncontrollable pain in his abdomen, purple lips, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. When Hu Zhenguan saw that it was not right, he immediately found tea, silver flower, licorice and other antidotes for Emperor Yan to eat, but it had no effect.
At this time, Emperor Yan was very calm. He took Hu Zhenguan's hand and said, "It seems that I accidentally ate highly poisonous herbs. In the past, seventy poisons could be solved in one day. Today, it is categorically ineffective, it can be seen that it is the king of poison, so let's call it 'king medicine'. Hey, my intestines are very painful, as if they are breaking inch by inch, and it can be called 'broken intestine grass'. I hope you will tell the people to pay attention and never eat by mistake. ”
At this time, the nearby people had already heard the news and rushed to come. Hearing Emperor Yan say this, he was very panicked. Everyone said that people can be wary, but cattle graze on the mountains, and if they eat this poisonous weed, it will not be troublesome. Emperor Yan said: It doesn't matter, I remember, the White Deer Fairy Mother once said that there is a poison "green vine climbing the wall, green leaves and yellow flowers, people eat broken intestines, cows eat to relieve coolness", it seems that this herb is this. After I die, I hope you will pass on the prescription I have tasted from generation to generation for the benefit of the people. Bury me in the White Deer Plain at the end of the tea country, where the White Deer Fairy Mother fed me. There, it's like lying in your mother's arms, feeling the warmth of your mother. As he spoke, his eyes passed away.
After Emperor Yan's death, the courtiers and people were very sad. The people of Qiaotouling built a Yandi Palace in Lingnan, shaped a golden body, and worshiped it at four o'clock. A plaque "Died for the Son of Heaven" was hung at the head of the official gate to commemorate that Emperor Yan was the Son of Heaven and still benefited the people, and finally died here by mistake after eating the broken intestine grass.
Yandi Shennong
Broken intestine grass
Selected from "Yandi and Yandi's Mausoleum", published by Guangming Daily in 1988
Selected from "Yanling and Yandi Mausoleum", published by Guangming Daily in 1988