Chinese Materia Dietetica, Ming: Grave-well water

Illustration of 'grave-well water' (zhong jing shui) from Shiwu bencao (Materia dietetica), a dietetic herbal in four volumes dating from the Ming period (1368-1644). The identity of the author and artists is unknown. It contains entries on over 300 medicinal substances and is illustrated by almost 500 paintings in colour. This illustration shows the procedure for obtaining grave-well water, i.e. water found in deep graves. In the illustration, two men are drawing water out of an ancient grave. The text states: Grave-well water is extremely poisonous. Anyone who is immersed in it cannot hope to survive. If one wishes to enter a grave well, one must get a small quantity of the water and place a chicken's feather on the surface. If the feather sinks directly, it is not poisonous; but if it spins around, it is poisonous. If it is poisonous, several scoops of hot vinegar should be poured in, after which human beings may enter.

Grave-well water (zhong jing shui)