Mushroom Varieties (Takenoshina)

Those that grow on the ground are called 'kin' or 'jin' (mushrooms). Those that grow on trees are called 'sen' (fungi).

'Kin' is the Japanese name for 'take', and 'sen' is read as 'kinomi'. There are several types of 'kin': 'mokukin' (types of wood ear), 'tokin' (types that grow from the soil), 'sekikin' (types of rock mushrooms), etc., and there are a great many varieties. Chen Renyu of the Song dynasty wrote the 'Junpu' (Mushroom Manual), which is very detailed. The 'Bencao' (Materia Medica) states that, in general, mushrooms that grow in the mountains during the sixth or seventh month when it is humid and hot are sweet, slippery, and edible. However, many of the items listed in the 'Junpu' and 'Bencao' are not found in our country, and it is difficult to identify them all.

Although commonly called 'kusabira', in the 'Wamyosho' (Wamyō Ruijushō), vegetables are referred to as 'kusabira'. In the dialects of China and Kyushu, they are called 'naha'. Around Owari, they are called 'mimi'.

* 'Wamyosho' refers to the 'Wamyō Ruijushō'. It is a dictionary compiled in the mid-Heian period. * 'Song dynasty Chen Renyu's Junpu' is a book titled 'Junpu' compiled by Chen Renyu of the Song dynasty. It can be viewed in the National Diet Library Digital Collections in "
Gakuhō Zasso" and "Kōfu Tō Gōshō". * 'Bencao' refers to the materia medica book compiled by Li Shizhen of the Ming dynasty, the 'Bencao Gangmu' (Compendium of Materia Medica). It can be viewed in the National Diet Library Digital Collections in "
Bencao Gangmu Volume [Complete Collection]".

Reishi (Lingzhi)
Commonly called 'Reishi'. Also known as 'Kameiso', 'Fushiso', or 'Fukuso'. Japanese reading: also 'Katodetake' or 'Sakikusa'.

In the 'Bencao', it is a 'xianyao' (immortal medicine) called 'Goshikishiba' (Five-Colored Mushroom). Since the Four Graybeards of Mount Shang gathered and ate the 'zhi' (mushroom), it has been consumed by the immortals. In addition to the five colors, there is also 'zishi' (purple mushroom). These are divided into the 'six zhi'.

Among them, the purple mushroom is common. It grows on the ground, in sand and stones, or under pine trees, and once it grows in a place, it will grow in the same spot for many years. When it first grows, it is yellow; as days pass, it takes on a red color, and as it matures, it becomes purple-brown, with a black stem and a glossy appearance. The underside of the cap is unbroken and smooth. Its taste possesses the five flavors corresponding to the five colors. This is a 'zuicao' (auspicious herb) that blooms three times in one season, and it is also seen in the 'auspicious omens' section of the Japanese 'Engishiki'. The 'Suimingrei' states that when a king is benevolent, 'zhicao' (auspicious mushrooms) will grow; this is what that refers to.

* 'Mount Shang' is a mountain located southeast of Shang County in Shaanxi Province. Shangling. Nanshan. * 'Four Graybeards' is a collective term for the four old men (Dongyuan Gong, Qiliji, Xiahuang Gong, and Luli Xiansheng) who fled the world and hid in Mount Shang during the time of Emperor Gaozu of Han. Shangshan Sihao.

As for its shape, some grow individually, while others grow in clusters. Some grow stacked on a single stem, like a 'maitake'. Some grow stems and branches with caps. Others grow only stems without caps, reaching about three feet in height, with branches, resembling deer antlers. This is a rare variety called 'rokukakushi' (deer-antler mushroom), which was found in the mountains of Ise some years ago. In total, there are about one hundred varieties of 'zhi' (mushrooms). Rare items are detailed in the 'Bencao Gangmu'.

In Tanba, it is presented as a gift to celebrate a departure. In Ise, it is called 'mannentake' (ten-thousand-year mushroom) and is used to decorate the 'horai' (New Year's display). In Edo, it is called 'kojyakushi', and in Sendai, it is called 'mago-jyakushi', and it is used to scratch smallpox sores.

* 'Horai' seems to be a reading applied to 'shinban' (a tray containing the five pungent vegetables, used at New Year's), referring to the 'horai' (a stand modeled after Mount Penglai, decorated with pine, bamboo, plum, cranes, turtles, etc.).

Sarunokoshikake (Shelf fungus)
This is a type of mushroom. It grows on trees and has no stem. Large ones can reach four or five feet.

Shiitake
Also known as 'koko', 'kōkin', or 'shojin'.

Those produced in Hyuga are considered the highest quality. Many are also produced around Kumano. Those that grow on chinquapin trees are considered the standard. However, since naturally occurring ones are rare, they are cultivated by cutting down chinquapin trees, letting them rot in the rain, sprinkling them with rice-washing water, covering them with straw mats, and letting them grow over time. Some are also made by cutting down oak trees. They are harvested and dried by roasting rather than sun-drying. Therefore, the aroma is preserved. Also, 'sa-hoshi' refers to those dried while still growing on the tree, and their flavor is very excellent. This is called 'kashin' in Chinese. Those that resemble 'matsutake' (pine mushrooms) and have the stem attached to the center are considered the true variety.

Also, there is a thing in China called 'thunder fungus.' I suspect it is a type of cultivated mushroom. The 'Tongya' states that if you strike trees like the Japanese zelkova, elm, or hackberry with an axe, cut them, let the bark soak in rain for a long time, pour rice water over it, and hear the sound of thunder, mushrooms will grow. If it does not thunder, it is said that if you strike it with a large axe, mushrooms will immediately grow.

This is like the method for cultivating shiitake mushrooms. What is produced now in Yoshino in Yamato Province and on mountains in Ise is superior to that of Hyuga. The method is to cut many Japanese alder trees, gather them in one place, bury them slightly in the soil, build a fence around them to block the wind, and leave them exposed to the sun and rain for about a year. Once you see that they have rotted to the right degree, you strike them with that axe and leave them, without even pouring rice water over them. However, they do not grow much at first; they reach their peak after three years. Since they do not grow much every year after that, you strike them with the axe again, repeating this over the years.

They grow in spring, summer, and autumn, but not in winter. Among them, the spring variety is considered the highest quality and is called 'Haruko' (spring fragrance). The summer variety has a thin cap and is inferior in taste. Also, there is a separate variety called 'Yukiko' (snow fragrance), which is an exquisite item with a thick edge and a perfectly formed shape. This is selected from among the Haruko, and is prized for having a clean, white underside.

Note: 'Tongya' is a linguistic book compiled by Fang Yizhi during the Ming Dynasty.
Note: 'Washu' refers to Yamato Province.

Iwatake (Rock Mushroom)
, also known as Sekishi (Stone Mushroom)

There is a large rock at the summit of the Tengu Peak in Kumano. Many grow on top of it. They all grow on the steep parts of mountain rocks.

During the hot summer months, they are very small and resemble pine moss. The surface is black and the underside is blue; in color and shape, they resemble wood ear mushrooms and have no stem. The black part grows attached to the rock.

To harvest this, one hangs a ladder, clings to a rope, or rides in a basket and is lowered from a tree branch, as shown in the illustration. It is not as scary as it looks from the outside; it is easier than a monkey climbing a tree. It is said that even bush warbler chicks are harvested in this way. Currently, the ones produced in Yoshino are considered the highest quality.

Appendix
There are many varieties of these other mushrooms.

Matsutake (Pine Mushroom)
Matsutake mushrooms from Sanshu (Yamashiro Province) are considered the best. Generally, they do not grow unless it is a red pine. Therefore, because there are many black pines in the western provinces, there are few matsutake mushrooms and many tuckahoe (Poria cocos). Because there are many red pines in the Kyoto region, there are many mushrooms and few tuckahoe.

Note: 'Sanshu' refers to Yamashiro Province.
Note: 'Bukuryo' (tuckahoe) is a fungus of the Polyporaceae family that parasitizes pine roots. Also called 'matsuhodo'.

Shimeji (Beech Mushroom)

Nunohiki Mushroom

Hatsu Mushroom
The underside is like verdigris. In the Owari region, it is called Aohachi.

Name Mushroom
In the western provinces, it is called Mizutadaki and grows in winter.

Hira Mushroom
Many are produced from Koya, and they also grow on various trees.

Mai Mushroom
It resembles the Hira mushroom, with many growing in layers on a single stem, like needles. It is small, and the tips are purple.

Wood Ear Mushroom
Wood ear mushrooms grow attached to tree bark, and when they first sprout, they are pale yellow tinged with red. When picked and dried, they turn black. In Japan, those that grow on the elder tree are considered the highest quality.

Mulberry Mushroom
There are two types of mulberry mushrooms; the hard one is the bracket fungus (monkey's bench) of the mulberry tree. The soft one is the edible wood ear mushroom. Besides these, mushrooms grow on the Japanese pagoda tree, elm, willow, and Japanese snowbell.

Cedar Mushroom
Cedar mushrooms grow on cedar stumps; they resemble the Hira mushroom and are common in deep mountains.

Kudzu Mushroom
These are the essence of the kudzu flower, and the red mushroom is also of this type. There is one variety that grows in spring called the Nightingale mushroom, also known as Sasa mushroom; in Tanba it is called the Red mushroom, and in Nanto it is called the Shicho mushroom, among other names.

Reed Mushroom
Reed mushrooms are Shimeji mushrooms that grow among reeds and bush clover. They appear around September.

Inokoro Mushroom
The Inokoro mushroom is also called the Hari (needle) mushroom. It is different from the common needle mushroom; the main variety grows with a spread cap, and there are needles on the underside of the cap. It is white in color and bitter in taste.

Cow-hide Mushroom
Cow-hide mushrooms grow abundantly on tree roots in shady hills. They have short stems and grow in many layers. The surface is black with brownish hair. The underside is white and smooth without slits. The Kawa (leather) mushroom is black and is of the same species. The black-hide mushroom is also the same as this.

Mushroom varieties are generally as described above. Besides these, there are many that are poisonous and not for consumption. Some, such as the sparrow's egg mushroom, grow in bamboo groves, and the earth mushroom is also called the fox's parasol; these also include types of ghost cap, earth fungus, and ghost pen.

Author's note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered.
I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos and misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" section. 📖