The story of Wu Gang chopping at the laurel tree first appears in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang.
Tips
history
杂俎 means 'a mixed platter'. Its twenty scrolls, plus a ten-scroll 续集 sequel, range from Tang customs and foreign lands to monsters, medicine and food. It holds the legend of the 狈 behind 狼狈为奸 and an early Cinderella story, the tale of 叶限.
culture
The title alludes to a legendary cave of ancient books in the Youyang hills, promising rare and hidden lore.
