In China, Shen Shui Mu is carbonized wood, which is called ebony by Shu people and "Oriental Shenmu" by westerners. The formation of Shen Shui Mu has a long history. According to the records of available data, in the remote ancient times, thousands of precious ancient trees in virgin forests were buried deep under the mud and sand of ancient river beds and rivers and lakes, and some were buried in the dark stratum of hypoxia for thousands of years, even tens of thousands of years, because of the sudden and major changes in geography and scenery (such as earthquakes, flash floods, lightning strikes, typhoons, etc.). After thousands of years of natural abrasion, Shui Mu has both the elegance of wood and the charm of stone. Its texture is solid and heavy, its color is black and luxurious, its cross section is smooth and delicate, and its wood is oily, moisture-proof and fragrant, which will not rot for thousands of years and is not afraid of insects. Individual tree species recorded in ancient books also have medicinal value. It combines the characteristics of "thinness, permeability, leakage and wrinkle" and is worthy of the reputation of "Oriental Shenmu" and "plant mummy". Shen Shui Mu has been regarded as a precious wood and rare thing since ancient times, and it is a symbol of dignity and status. There is a folk saying in our country that "a box of jewelry is not as good as ebony" and "20 thousand gold is sent to the underworld for ebony to worship the spirit of heaven" In ancient times, dignitaries and literati regarded the furniture made by Shen Shui Mu and the artworks carved by Shen Shui Mu as heirlooms, treasures of towns and houses, and treasures to ward off evil spirits. Throughout the ages, especially in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shen Shui Mu became the first choice for emperors to build palaces and make coffins. In the Qing Dynasty, the emperors even listed it as a special material for the royal family, and the people could not take it privately, which made Shui Mu more sparse. Yuan Shikai, a traitor in the Republic of China, went against the historical trend, and the "Emperor Dream" soon died. However, in order to show that he was an emperor, his family spent a lot of money, found a submerged piece of wood and pieced together a coffin for him. Although this is a historical joke, it also shows that sinking into the water is hard to find precious.

Strictly speaking, Shen Shui Mu has gone beyond the category of wood, but should be listed as a "treasure". This is because, in the "Treasure Garden" of the Palace Museum, there are exquisite works of art carved by Shen Shui Mu, which shows that its preciousness is far beyond the reach of ordinary wood. Shui Mu furniture and relief artworks can be said to be unparalleled in terms of texture, cultural value and appreciation prospect, even surpassing precious mahogany.