Human Ginseng Quote by Barry Hughart
““Ginseng hunters refer to the plant as chang-diang shen, “the root of lightning,” because it is believed that it appears only on the spot where a small mountain spring has been dried up by a lightning bolt. After a life of three hundred years the green juice turns white and the plant acquires a soul. It is then able to take on human form, but it never becomes truly human because ginseng does not know the meaning of selfishness.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, 1984
Ginseng’s myth describes a plant gaining a soul after centuries, yet never fully understanding selfishness.
In simple terms: The plant gains life but lacks human selfishness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize growth without losing humanity.
Themes
myth
nature
spirituality
Mood
mysterious
contemplative
Type
mythical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- herbal medicine
- spiritual quests
- longevity practices
Key Concepts
transformation
life cycle
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “selfishness” symbolize here?
- Can growth be without moral development?
A Different Perspective
Myths may oversimplify complex biology.
![“The problem with 'the crown jewel of Chinese literature' [Dream of the Red Chamber] is that it has two thousand pages and an equal number of characters, and the hero is an effeminate ass who should have either been spanked or decapitated, both ends being equally objectionable.” quote by Barry Hughart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9f5/barry-hughart-19013_books_the-problem-with-the-crown-jewel-of-chin_1270548.jpg)