Analysis of historical data on two groups of words: loquat and “Pipa” (Lute instrument) , loquat and “Luju” plant

Abstract: China is the origin region of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) . The history of loquat cultivation has been recorded for more than 2000 years, which has produced a number of important loquat words and influenced the spread of loquat in the world. Therefore, a textual study of the etymological relationship between loquat and“Pipa” (Lute instrument) , loquat and“Luju”will provide more reliable evidence for the historical facts of loquat. With the help of the rich research achievements of music, phonology and Linguistics circles on the origin and development of the musical instrument“Pipa”, and with the help of modern network technology“reader”to browse the vast sea of information, the etymological relationship between the two pairs of phrases“loquat”and“Pipa”, “loquat”and“Luju”was studied in this paper. The two viewpoints of loquat leaf“its shape is like Pipa, so it is named”and“Luju”is another name of loquat were analyzed. The data showed that the word loquat appeared two or three hundred years earlier than Pipa, The word“loquat”refers to the fruit plant loquat, which was planted earlier before the completion of the“Historical Records”, and is called“loquat”, which is recorded in Sima Qian's“Historical Records”, which is the earliest record of loquat so far. However, the word“pipa”has not been found in the“Historical Records”. The Wei and Jin Dynasties, two or three hundred years after this, may appear. Therefore, Kou Zongyu said that loquat leaf“its shape is like a pipa, so the name”is not correct, has been circulated for more than 1 000 years, can no longer be“misleading”should be abandoned. As for how to express the origin of loquat name in the future, professionals can discuss whether it can be expressed as follows: loquat originated in China, began to grow in BC, “Records of History”clearly recorded“loquat”. In some necessary occasions, it may be added that the word loquat refers to fruit plants, much earlier than“pipa”refers to musical instruments. From the Northern Song dynasty to the present, many literatures quote Kou Zongyu's“Materia Medica Yanyi”as saying: loquat leaf“its shape is like a pipa, so it is called”belongs to“to falsehood. Another key word, Luju”, it is not a loquat, may be one kind of Rutaceae plant, and it was a misunderstanding to use it to refer to the other name of loquat. As for why Su Shi insisted that Lu Orange was a loquat nickname in the Song dynasty, the reasons are not clear. However, because of his fame and influence, many people follow Su Shi and regard Lu Orange as a loquat nickname, or common name. So in the latter half of the nineteenth century, when the British introduced loquat from Guangzhou to Kew Gardens, the loquat was also transliterated as“Luju”and later evolved into loquat. How to express loquat alias in the future, professionals can also discuss whether it can be expressed as follows: loquat, once alias Luju, has been used since the Song dynasty, until the nineteenth century when Britain introduced loquat from China, there are also misuse Luju refers to loquat, known as loquat, now find out, historical records. The word“Luju”, which first appeared in China, does not mean loquat. In short, the two viewpoints of loquat leaf are fallacious and should be abandoned.