Why is it called ghost wood?
Sophora japonica is called Sophora japonica because it is a ghost in the forest. Because of its heavy yin and easy to attract ghosts, it is forbidden to plant near houses in geomantic omen. Sophora japonica attracts ghosts, and its roots often wear coffins. If you bury a person's grave and can't find the exact location, go to Sophora japonica. It must be a grave within a meter of it. Sophora japonica can produce fungus, also called ghost ear, which is very scientific. Ancient cults used it to confuse the dead and turn them into zombies.
In ancient legends of China, there are often Sophora japonica, the old Sophora japonica among the Seven Fairys, and Anguo, the big Sophora japonica in Conan's dream, is an ant hole under the Sophora japonica. Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself in Jingshan, Beijing.
Ancient people also liked to choose Sophora japonica when they hanged themselves. For example, in ancient times, Sophora japonica was considered to represent "Lu", and Sophora japonica was a ghost in the forest. The ancient imperial court planted three locust trees and nine spines, under which doctors or officials sat, and those facing the three locust trees were three fairies. "Zhou Li Qiu Guan banknote stone" said: "There are three Sophora flowers on the surface, and the three fairies are not there." There is an inscription on Sanhuaitang written by Mr. Dongpo in China's View of Ancient Literature, which tells this story.
In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang You, assistant minister of the Ministry of War of Shangshu, wrote a good article and made great achievements as an official. He believed that the descendants of the Wangs would be made public, so he planted three locust trees as symbols in the yard. Later, his son, Wang Dan, became prime minister, and was called "Sanhuai King" at that time, and built Sanhuai Hall in Kaifeng. You see, three plants have been planted, and all the descendants have become big officials. The power of this locust tree is really not small!
Another allusion is the well-known "Conan's Dream", which was recorded in the biography of Conan's satrap written by Li Gongzuo in the Tang Dynasty. It is said that Guangling people are pure in Pakistan, drunk and fell asleep under the locust tree in the yard. I had a dream that I went to a wild country and married a princess. I have been the governor of Conan for 20 years, which is a very glorious job. But later, because of the defeat in the battle, the princess died and he was sent home. Then I woke up and saw my family cleaning the yard. The hip flask is nearby before the sun goes down. He looked around and found an ant hole under the locust tree. It turned out to be an ant hole in the wild country, where he dreamed of being an official. The southernmost tip of Sophora japonica is Conan County, where he is the magistrate. It can be seen that Sophora japonica still has the ability to make people dream. No wonder they are called wooden ghosts. Therefore, when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty built Shanglin Garden, ministers gave names and fruits to different trees, among which Sophora japonica was listed as a different tree and contributed more than 600 plants, which was not unreasonable.