Chinese Materia Dietetica: Rice liquor; Guangxi snake liquor

Illustrations 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. The illustrations depict the production of rice liquor (mijiu) and Guangxi snake liquor (shejiu). The text states: Rice liquor is made by fermenting white glutinous rice with clear water, yeast (baiqu) and white glutinous rice. Drunk in small quantities, it is good for the health. Guangxi snake liquor is made by putting an inch-long section of a snake (1 cun [Chinese inch] = c. 3 cm) in the vat, and it is fermented with medicinal herbs collected in the mountains; thus it is poisonous. This liquor is effective in expelling wind.

Rice liquor (mijiu). Guangxi snake liquor (shejiu). These inscriptions are no longer readily legible