What is “Thunder-Struck Wood”?
Thunder-struck wood refers to the part of a tree that has been struck by lightning during a storm and has either partially or fully survived the event. Trees such as jujube, peach, willow, and poplar are among those that can be struck by lightning. In the eyes of the public, a tree that has been struck down by lightning is believed to possess the power to expel evil spirits, as the lightning is thought to have driven away all ghosts and evil presences from the tree, making it the most potent “divine wood” for exorcism.
The Formation and Danger of Heart Rot in Trees
From a scientific perspective, the occurrence of heart rot in a tree, also known as “thunder-struck wood,” presupposes that the tree must have a hollow center. Although trees can absorb and store nutrients through their roots for growth, a hollow heart indicates a very poor health status of the tree.
The phenomenon of heart rot in trees is not uncommon in our surroundings. The internal structure of a tree consists of three parts: the pith, xylem, and cambium. While the interior of a tree should contain moisture, it does not necessarily contain nutrients, as nutrients are transported and stored on the exterior of the tree. Therefore, even a hollow tree can continue to survive.
The hollow interior of a tree can actually be a result of fermentation, producing biogas. Over time, as this biogas accumulates to a certain concentration within the tree, it may cause spontaneous combustion. Especially during thunderstorms, if a lightning bolt strikes a tree, the gas inside can instantly heat up, and the immense temperature can cause an explosion of the biogas.
At the same time, the outer bark of the tree acts as a barrier, creating a “chimney effect,” which is why the precondition for heart rot in a tree is that the tree must be hollow. The chimney effect can also enhance the intensity and height of the flames when the fire is raging.
In this state, the interior of the tree trunk will quickly char under high temperatures, and the internal smoke will be unable to escape, only continuing to accumulate. When the concentration reaches a certain level, the biogas will explode, simultaneously increasing the temperature and height of the flames.
A tree on fire is an extremely dangerous state, yet the phenomenon of heart rot is relatively common in our lives. Some places may have trees that have been burned for thousands of years, or trees with high ornamental and research value.
The Mystery of “Thunder-Struck Wood”
In Henan Lingbao, there is a tree over a thousand years old, locally known as the “Millennium Thunder-Struck Wood.” The trunk of this tree has a large cavity, and two kittens live inside this cavity. However, cat feces are never seen under this tree. It was only when the villagers cleaned it that they found a lot of cat feces in the cavity, but these feces are always dry.
Why is that? At that time, the villagers believed that the tree might have been struck by lightning, making the cavity very dry, which led to the cat feces not rotting for a long time. However, this explanation is not scientific. So, where does the source of the cat feces come from?
It turns out that there is a location in the cavity with a lot of cat feces. People wanted to find out the truth, so they called the cats. But the problem is, how could there be so many cats in the world?
The villagers said, “Nowadays, there are fewer people raising cats. We just lit a cigarette, and at that time, we saw a kitten, and then a group of cats came.”
But where did this group of cats come from? After careful investigation, it was found that this was a group of feral cats, and these cats belonged to the workers on the Erqi Railway.
These workers are numerous, and to prevent the cats from getting cold in the wild, they would put the cats in this tree hole at night. As a result, due to the tree trunk’s cavity having a very small gap and very little light, the tree hole is not only dark and cool but also lacks enough oxygen channels, so it does not produce a smell.
However, this also led to the cats being unable to get enough oxygen in the tree hole, causing a group of cats to suffocate to death in the tree hole. Therefore, the villagers at that time believed that these cats died after lighting a cigarette.
Extinguishing Heart Rot in Trees
When heart rot occurs in a tree, it is important to find professionals to extinguish the fire in a timely manner. The method of extinguishing heart rot in trees is relatively simple.
Firstly, during the fire-extinguishing process, there must be enough water, and it is also necessary to cut the melted sap on the tree trunk with a knife, otherwise, the sap will not flow out, which will also accelerate the enhancement of the flames.
Secondly, if the place where the heart rot is located is high above the ground, a wooden stick or a longer piece of wood can be soaked in water and slowly placed into the cavity in the heart of the tree to extinguish the fire, or a fire extinguisher can be used to spray and extinguish the fire.
If the heart rot is very serious, it is also possible to consider felling the tree, but it is necessary to choose a safe time to fell the tree to avoid casualties.
Cultural Significance of Thunder-Struck Wood
Thunder-struck wood is also known as thunder-hit trees, thunder god trees, or thunder spirit wood. People in various regions have endowed thunder god trees with beautiful meanings and legends.
For example, in the southern part of Sichuan, people regard thunder god trees as objects that suppress evil spirits. They believe that this tree can suppress the evil spirits of one place and protect the local prosperity.
In the northeastern part of Sichuan, it is also called a thunder-hit tree. The tree is covered with moss, the trunk is covered with many small mushrooms, and the top of the tree is also covered with a lot of moss.
People in legends regard the root system of the thunder-hit tree as a huge snake, and the trunk is covered with snake scales.
In Zhejiang Shengzhou, people often choose a good day on the 20th day of the sixth lunar month every year to offer sacrifices and invite friends and relatives to have a meal together, which is unprecedented.
This activity has a history of several hundred years. Many people come here to gather with friends and relatives, both to exorcise evil spirits and to ask the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha to bless their children for a long and peaceful life.
People’s beautiful legends about thunder-struck wood and its unique growth form show their reverence for nature and their beautiful aspirations.
Conclusion
Heart rot in trees is a very dangerous phenomenon, and timely treatment can avoid losses. There are still many mysteries about heart rot waiting for us to explore, and there are many disputes about the causes of heart rot.
We need to scientifically explore the reasons for the internal combustion of trees to contribute to fire prevention and control. At the same time, we should respect nature and people’s cultural beliefs. After all, only by living in harmony with nature can we better promote ecological balance.