Queshan Radish

Queshan Radish

　　Queshan Radish

　　The radish is one of the oldest vegetables in China. In ancient times, it was also known as bao tu, zi hua song, lai fu, luo fu, and luo bo. Its root was called zhi luo fu or luo fu root, and its seeds were referred to as luo fu zi. Volume Five of the "Jian Ming Shu" written by Qiu Guangting of the Tang Dynasty mentions: "Upon recently reading the 'Qi Min Yao Shu,' I learned that the turnip is the sprout of the radish, and a lifelong doubt was completely resolved — namely, that the mustard seeds used in medicine are actually radish seeds. During the reign of Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, when there was a famine, people were encouraged to plant turnips to stave off hunger; when Zhuge Liang campaigned in Shu, he ordered his soldiers to plant radishes. Thus, there is no doubt that the radish and the turnip are one and the same."