郁金香现代化之误

A Modern Misinterpretation of Yujinxiang's Origin

中药来源采用正确的拉丁名是现代化的重要前提,然而象郁金香这样公元3世纪就很知名的中药却一直被误解为20世纪30年代才引进的百合科观赏植物Tulipa gesneriana。万震《南州异物志》记载郁金香的产地和有用部位特征恰恰表明郁金香应该是鸢尾科植物Crocus sativus,梵文称Kumkuma,汉译茶矩摩,佛经明确记载茶矩摩即郁金香,外国学者在研究汉唐文化和香料时均认为郁金香就是Saffron Crocus sativus。由于郁金香昂贵而稀有,在原产地和原使用地常以红花、郁金之类代替,在名称上也混淆,以至于某些中国研究者不知真郁金香是什么,甚至产生上述误解。因此有充分理由恢复以郁金香之名来使用Saffron(即番红花、西红花、藏红花),这对于safranal、"Tulip Revolution"、"Saffron Revolution"这类名称术语的准确翻译也是十分必要的。

To note a correct species name by Latin binominal nomenclature is key foundation of modernization for Chinese ancient medicines. Unfortunately, Yujinxiang reported by Wan Zhen around the 3rd century AD has been mistaken as Tulipa gesneriana （Liliaceae）, a flower for eye feasting, since the 1930＇s. According to Wan＇s description, especially source, color and length of style and stamens, uses for Buddhist monastery and wine because of its aromatics, it should have been Saffron （Crocus sativus）. Saffron is derived from Arabic za＇fran, meaning ＂yellow＂, and had a name ＂Kumkuma＂ in Sanskrit/Indian, where saffron crocus corms has been grown and harvested in Kashmir （or Jibin state in Wan＇s description） for more than two thousand years. Because of its high cost and rarity, economical substitutes, such as safflower （Carthamus tinctorius） or ＂false saffron＂ and turmeric （Curcuma longa）, or ＂Indian saffron＂ have been used in the original places. The substitutes, both having a color of saffron, produce a very different flavor and medical functions. As a result, some Chinese scholars have no idea what an authentic Yujinxiang is, or simply mention Tulip as a Yujinxiang. On the other hand, foreign scholars believe that Yujinxiang is a saffron after reading the description of Yujinxiang in Chinese, as they understand Saffron better than those Chinese scholars. It is reasonable and necessary to correct the mistake, in an attempt to restore the medicinal utilities of saffron in the name of Yujinxiang. This will also be helpful for translating ＂Tulip Revolution＂, ＂Saffron Revolution＂ and so on into correct Chinese nomenclatures.