[A new textual research on origin of monascus rice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the origin of Monascus Rice. METHODS: The relative literature were investigated and classified. RESULTS: It was verifiable that the record of Monascus Rice in Chu Xue Ji ([Chinese characters: see text]), a subject-based reference book compiled by Xu Jian in the Tang Dynasty, was excerpted from the metrical verse Qi Shi ([Chinese characters: see text]) written by Wang Can in the Dong Han Dynasty. It is no doubt the name of Monascus Rice was originally used in this peried. CONCLUSION: The use of Monascus Rice can be traced at least to the Han Dynasty.