靈芝

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See also: 霊芝 and 灵芝

Chinese

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alert; departed soul; efficacious
alert; departed soul; efficacious; quick; effective; intelligence
 
Zoysia pungens
trad. (靈芝)
simp. (灵芝)
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Etymology

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According to Wasson (1968),[1] this compound noun is coined by Ban Gu (班固) (32 - 92 CE) in the poem 《郊祀靈芝歌》 ("Ode to the Numinous Mushroom for the Suburban Sacrifice"):

露寢靈芝應圖 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
露寝灵芝应图 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: c. 1st century CE, Ban Gu (班固), 《郊祀靈芝歌》 ("Ode to the Numinous Mushroom for the Suburban Sacrifice"); translation based on Wasson (1968)'s version
Yīn lùqǐn xī chǎn língzhī. Xiàng sāndé xī ruì yìngtú. [Pinyin]
The Numinous Mushroom grows with the settling dews, the sign of three virtues, happy omen's picture fulfilled.

Ban Gu's coining is inspired by the description of a Ganoderma mushroom () as "numinous" () in a poem composed in 109 BCE by Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝 (Hàn Wǔ Dì)) and preserved in the Book of Han, "chapter 22" (translation based on Wasson, 1968):[1]

玄氣回復蔓蔓 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
玄气回复蔓蔓 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Han, circa 1st century CE
Xuánqì zhī jīng, huífù cǐ dōu, mànmàn rì mào, zhī chéng líng huá. [Pinyin]
The essence of the Mysterious Breath, there it is, returned again to this residence, day after day this superb growth, this mushroom which unfolds its most numinous beauties.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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靈芝

  1. lingzhi (mushroom used in traditional Asian medicine, namely, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma tsugae, or others in the genus Ganoderma)

Synonyms

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Descendants

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Sino-Xenic (靈芝):
  • Japanese: 霊芝(れいし) (reishi)
  • Korean: 영지(靈芝) (yeongji)
  • Vietnamese: linh chi (靈芝)

Others:

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 R. Gordon Wasson (1968) Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality, pages 86, 89