As a tree that can feed silkworms, it is often cut down in rural areas to burn fires. However, in ancient times, it was a royal tree, affectionately known as "Imperial Wood" or "**Wood". The Zhe tree is closely related to the mulberry tree, and their appearance is very similar, so the silkworm feeding effect of the Zhe tree leaves is not inferior to that of the mulberry leaves. Trees are generally slow-growing shrubs or small trees, and the height of the trees is generally about six or seven meters. However, due to the long growth cycle and the thorns on the tree, most of the trees are used by people to make fires, and few people choose to plant them. However, the tree is rich in value, not only as a precious dye for dyeing silk, but also as a fine wood for high-end furniture making and bows.
The reason why the tree became a royal tree is because its core has the property of dying yellow. In ancient times, yellow was seen as a symbol of the emperor, and only the emperor could wear yellow clothing. The core of the tree can extract a rare yellow dye, which is a natural dye. The clothes dyed by Zhemu are brightly colored, not easy to fade, and exude a burst of fragrance. Therefore, in ancient times, the Zhe tree was used to dye the emperor's dragon robe, which was often called the "Zhe robe" and became a symbol of the emperor. Su Shi wrote in a poem in the Song Dynasty: "When I was old, I offered the emperor to be idle, and I served three thousand people in the pond in the robe." The "robe" here refers to the emperor at that time. The Zhe tree is therefore named "imperial wood" or "**wood" for the royal family. The dye properties of Zhemu were not only loved by the emperor, but also became an excellent material for making high-end furniture. It grows slowly but is extremely hard, with a beautiful yellow vein at the core, comparable to rosewood. Ancient royalty and aristocrats often used Zheshu wood to make high-end furniture. In addition, Zheshu also had the unique advantage of making expensive bows and crossbows, and was one of the favorite bow materials of emperors.
In addition to being a valuable resource for dyes and wood, the leaves of the tree are also edible for silkworms. The silkworms fed by the leaves of the tree are called tussip silkworms, and the silk produced is also very valuable. In addition, the tree also produces delicious fruits, similar to mulberries, and in many rural areas, children often pick the wild fruit to satisfy their cravings, and its taste is very delicious, even surpassing the taste of mulberries. The fruit can not only be eaten fresh, but also used to make sake and make preserved fruits and other delicacies. Its bark was one of the important raw materials for making paper in ancient times, and the paper produced was extremely tough due to the rich fiber of the stem bark of the tree. In addition, the roots, stems, bark, leaves, and fruits of the Zhe tree can all be used as medicinal herbs, among which the roots of the Zhe tree are commonly used, which is called "piercing stone" by traditional Chinese medicine.
Nowadays, however, the wild tree has become scarce and has become a protected plant. Many of the trees were cut down by farmers and used as firewood. In particular, the tall trees are almost extinct. Therefore, in areas with Zhe trees, in order to protect this precious tree species, we need to pay attention to not cutting down Zhe trees at will. It is worth mentioning that not all trees are protected, and in general, they refer to trees that are more than 50 years old. It is a very important task for those places with Zheshu to protect this precious resource and pass on its historical and cultural significance.
Finally, we can also draw inspiration from the historical value of Zheshu. As an ancient and magical tree, the Zheshu not only provided dyes and wood for the ancient royal family, but also contributed to the production of silk and the manufacture of high-end furniture and bows and crossbows. The story of Zheshu tells us that every species in nature may contain infinite treasures, and as long as we are careful to discover and protect, we can create more value and beauty. Let's work together to preserve this precious tree species and keep its historical and cultural value alive.