[A new textual research on origin of monascus rice].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the origin of Monascus Rice.


METHODS
The relative literature were investigated and classified.


RESULTS
It was verifiable that the record of Monascus Rice in Chu Xue Ji ([Chinese characters: see text]), a subject-based reference book compiled by Xu Jian in the Tang Dynasty, was excerpted from the metrical verse Qi Shi ([Chinese characters: see text]) written by Wang Can in the Dong Han Dynasty. It is no doubt the name of Monascus Rice was originally used in this peried.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Monascus Rice can be traced at least to the Han Dynasty.
Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Medical College of Jinan University, China.
Dong
D
Li
Jing
J
Xie
Min
M
Wang
Zhen-de
ZD
Chen
Wen-peng
WP
Yuan
D001877:Books / Q000266:history; D002681:China; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history*; D032741:Monascus; D010598:Pharmacognosy / Q000266:history*; D009626:Terminology as Topic