Zitan or purple sandalwood is one of the rarest woods, and thus most precious in the world. As only a small amount of this wood exists today, it is highly prized. The use of zitan started in the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220). In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), this wood was used by imperial families and in large quantities leading to its near extinction in the later periods. The main characteristic of this wood is its colour, which is of the rhinoceros and the pattern on the wood resembles twisted threads. Zitan grows in eastern and southern Asia. In China, it is grown in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of China.
