Maize in pre-Columbian China found in Bencao Pinhui Jingyao

Abstract

Bencao Pinhui Jingyao complied in 1505 shows a drawing of maize under the caption of Yiyi-ren (Job's Tear). Also, a Chinese poem written around 1368 contains a term yumi, which indicates maize. These new findings offer clear evidence that maize existed in China in the pre-Columbian era. Details of this evidence, together with probable routes of introduction of maize to China, are discussed here. © 2006 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.