“葵”“向日葵”辨析

An Analysis of “Kui” and “Xiangrikui” (Sun Flower)and Their Difference

中国先秦时期已有葵、藿、薤、葱、韭为代表的繁多蔬菜品种。其中"葵",因具"向阳之性",不少当代文献资料想当然地将"葵"解释为"向日葵"。经考证,诗人们用以表达忠君爱国之情,表达对光明理想的孜孜以求而反复歌咏的葵,应该是葵菜,即现今常见的冬寒菜(冬苋菜),而不是向日葵。

In pre-Qing period,there were various kinds of vegetables,such as Kui,Huo,Xie,Cong and Jiu.Among of them,＂kui＂is taken for granted as ＂sun flower＂in some contemporary documents due to its nature of＂moving toward the Sun＂.Through textual research,＂kui＂which was used by poets to express their patriotism and pursuit for the light and dream should be kuicai,i.e.Chinese mallow,instead of sun flower.