Nanten was introduced from China during the Heian period and has been a valuable herbal medicine to suppress coughing since ancient times. It is popular as an auspicious tree that produces many shiny red berries from the end of autumn to the beginning of winter, and is based on the pronunciation of "deep-conversion" and is a wish that "reversion of difficulty and fortune" is a wish. It also has the meaning of warding off evil spirits, as it is said to keep bad energy at bay by placing it in the entrance. An encyclopedia from the Edo period states that "planting Nanten prevents fires," and in many private homes, they are planted in an ominous direction to protect the safety of the house.