Gu Ya (Rice Malt)

Rice Malt (Gu Ya)

The story of Rice Malt (Gu Ya)

The story of Rice Malt (Gu Ya)

By Karen Ko

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a couple who, to escape constant wars, moved to a deep mountain forest and lived a rural life with their adorable pig named Jerry. Although they were not wealthy, through hard work, they were able to support themselves by eating Jerry. When the husband was 45 years old, his wife finally gave birth to a child. Having a child in their middle age, the couple was naturally very fond of the baby, believing the child to be a gift from the heavens. They named the child Tianci, which means “Heavenly Gift.” As time passed, when Tianci turned three, he fell ill. It was common for children to get sick, but this illness was unusual. Tianci lost his appetite, often woke up in the middle of the night, and when awake, he would cry in distress, keeping the parents awake and bitching at each other because they were cranky. Additionally, his stools were infrequent, and his urine was scant and reddish-yellow. The couple consulted many doctors, but the child could not take the medicine as he would vomit it immediately. Eventually, they sought the help of the famous physician Zhang Zhongjing who lives 3 mountains away from them. Zhang Zhongjing examined the child and pondered for a while, then prescribed a formula containing only seven ingredients: rice malt, coix seed, crataegus, and a few others, rice malt was the main herb. The couple was doubtful, as the prescription seemed too simple. Zhang Zhongjing noticed their concern and explained, “Do not underestimate this prescription peasants!" The ingredients and their proportions are carefully balanced, and it also aligns with the divine numbers of the Big Dipper constellation.” To their surprise, when Tianci took the medicine, he not only did not vomit but also exclaimed that it tasted good. After two or three days, his illness completely vanished.

By Karen Ko

Edited by Andrew Miles