[Maize in pre-columbian China found in Bencao Pinhui Jingyao].
Bencao Pinhui Jingyao complied in 1505 shows a drawing of maize under the caption of Yiyi-ren (Job's Tear). Also, a Chinese poem written around 1368 contains a term yumi, which indicates maize. These new findings offer clear evidence that maize existed in China in the pre-Columbian era. Details of this evidence, together with probable routes of introduction of maize to China, are discussed here.
Uchibayashi
Masao
M
Takeda Science Foundation, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan.
D001901:Botany / Q000266:history*; D002681:China; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D003313:Zea mays / Q000266:history*