Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Kangxi Strokes: 12 Page 1028, Entry 24 Pronounced fu (rising tone). Poria (a type of medicinal fungus). Records of Myriad Things (Bowuzhi): When the resin of pine and cypress enters the earth and remains for a thousand years, it transforms into poria; when poria remains for a thousand years, it transforms into amber. Today, Mount Tai produces poria but no amber, while Yongchang in Yizhou produces amber but no poria. Materia Medica (Bencao): When pine trees that have been felled for many years remain in the earth, the scent and energy of their roots become pent up and have not yet vanished, and their essence has not yet sunken away. When this essence is abundant, it vents outward and congeals to form poria; because it does not cling to the root and is separated from its original body, it carries the meaning of being scattered. When the essence is not abundant, it merely attaches and congeals at the root; since it does not separate from the original body, it is called fu-shen (a related medicinal root substance).