相传三国吴人董奉隐居庐山,为人治病不收钱,仅要求重病治愈者,植杏树五株,轻者一株,数年后得杏树十余万株,蔚然成林。见《太平广记.卷一二.董奉》。后以杏林指医学界。
英语 forest of apricot trees, fig. honorific term for fine doctor (cf Dr Dong Feng 董奉, 3rd century AD, asked his patients to plant apricot trees instead of paying fees), Xinglin district of Xiamen city (renamed Haicang 海沧区 in 2003)