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Camphor Manufacturing Method

mominaina

Camphor Manufacturing Method

There are two types of camphor trees. The 'kusu' tree has a heartwood that is reddish-black and has a strong scent. The 'kusu' (楠) tree has little scent, and its heartwood is not reddish-black. There are many large trees of this type. When they rot, they turn into rock.

Camphor is made by chipping away the roots of the camphor tree and boiling the wood chips in a cauldron. Inside the hut, twenty-four cauldrons are set up in two rows. Twelve cauldrons are placed back-to-back at a time, with a space of about three feet left between them to allow for movement. The lid of the cauldron is a bowl. The gap between the cauldron and the bowl is sealed with mud to prevent steam from escaping. The dew that collects on the lid is camphor.

Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections 'Nihon Sankai Meibutsu Zue Vol. 3'
Camphor is made by chipping away the roots of the camphor tree and boiling the wood chips in a cauldron.
The dew that collects on the lid is camphor.


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