Chinese Materia Dietetica, Ming: Alcoholic beverages

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. These paintings illustrate mulberry liquor and Chinese wolfberry (gouqi, lycium chinen…