Lakawood

The name lakawood can refer to the wood of different plants, such as Acronychia pedunculata, A. Laurifolia, and in particular, Dalbergia parviflora found in South East Asia.

[6] The older term ziteng (紫藤, literally "purple vine", note that this is distinct from wisteria which has the same name in Chinese) has been identified as a plant grown in Southern China Acronychia pedunculata and A.

[6] During the Tang dynasty, it was used for magical and medicinal purposes, burnt in home to rid of all that is "weird and strange", and pieces of the wood were attached to children to ward off "evil vapours".

[5] According to 16th century herbologist and doctor Li Shizhen, it was also used "as an astringent, as a wash to cleanse sores and to excite granulations, and as a deodorizing and disinfecting agent.

[8][11] Lakawood from South East Asia was first noted in 982 (early Song dynasty) as one of the 37 foreign products that could be freely traded in China.

[12] They suggest a significant trade in lakawood, but it was also regarded as a cheap import during the Song dynasty, such that people of Quanzhou be they rich or poor can afford to buy the incense to burn at the end of the year as a sacrifice to Heaven.

The product was mentioned in accounts of Zheng He's voyages such Yingya Shenglan by Ma Huan during the Ming dynasty, and its value was considered high enough to be presented to the imperial court as tributes by various ports of Sumatra as well as Siam.