Jipu 雞譜

Jipu 雞譜 is an anonymous book on fightings cocks (douji 鬬雞), and at the same time the only traditional text specializing on this topic.

The text has a length of 51 paragraphs instructing the reader about the physical standards for fighting cocks (head, crest, eyes, etc.), breeding and raising, incubation eggs and feeding of chicken, and of adult cocks in particular, diseases and their treatment and prevention, as well as recommendations during and after a fight. As for breeding, the most important selection criteria were the head, feather, and bones and muscles. Apart from the right type of fodder, owners of fighting cocks had to pay attention to water, sun, soil, and the influence of seasons on the daily care of the animals. In the summer months, for instance, shadowy places were to be offered, and the bird fed with sorghum (gaoliang 高粱) and bean sprouts (douya 豆芽).

The text describes a dozen of diseases and provides suggestions which are still used nowadays.

The Jipu is transmitted as a manuscript written in 1787 in a perfect standard calligraphy style. It was transcribed and annotated by Wang Zichun 汪子春 and published in 1989 by the Nongye Press 農業出版社.