Red sandalwood is a broad term that includes various types of wood, similar to how "mahogany" encompasses different species like white and red rosewood. It's also referred to as sandalwood from many countries, with Indian rosewood being one of the most famous varieties. Historically, it was highly valued, especially during the Ming Dynasty, when it was used by officials and powerful figures such as Wei Zhongxian, who had significant influence over the court.
Many people believe that true rosewood refers specifically to Indian lobular rosewood and Philippine lobular rosewood (commonly known as narra). Among these, chicken blood rosewood is considered the most valuable and advanced type of rosewood currently available.
Today, in cities like Suzhou and Shanghai, you often see shops labeled as "blood tan boutiques" or sellers offering erhu parts. However, the majority—over 90%—of what's sold as "blood sandalwood" is actually African sandalwood, which is an imitation.
The quality difference between African sandalwood and chicken blood rosewood is significant. The former costs only 1/4 to 1/6 of the latter, and the instruments made from it are comparable to new red rosewood in quality, but still far below the standard of true blood sandalwood.
Red sandalwood is a long-lived evergreen tree, typically reaching five to six feet in height. It has compound leaves, butterfly-shaped flowers, and winged fruits. Its wood is extremely dense and sinks in water. During the Ming Dynasty, it was highly prized by the imperial family, leading to heavy deforestation. As a result, domestic rosewood became scarce. The government even collected it for official use, making rosewood furniture more common among the general public. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, rosewood was nearly extinct. Although Indian rosewood was later cultivated near the Yunnan border, it hasn't become a major material. Today, African bloodwood has taken its place due to the shortage of genuine rosewood.
According to historical records, there are over fifteen types of rosewood found across different regions, including Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Among them, Southeast Asian rosewood is considered the highest quality, with Indian rosewood having the best texture. However, Indian rosewood trees grow quickly, while other types grow slowly and take hundreds of years to mature.
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