In the timeless epic “Journey to the West,” the legendary handsome monkey king—Sun Wukong, later the invincible guardian of the monk Tang Sanzang on his quest for Buddhist scriptures—begins as the carefree ruler of a monkey tribe on Flower-Fruit Mountain. When winter leaves the mountain barren, the clever king leads his troop to unearth a hidden, life-sustaining treasure: Huang Jing (Polygonatum sibiricum).
Rooted both in the earth and tradition, this plant from the lily family is far more than folklore. Long valued for its edible and medicinal rhizomes, Polygonatum sibiricum holds a respected place in classical Chinese materia medica as a natural elixir believed to nourish vitality and promote longevity.
