Library

In the Xinsi year of the Shaoxing era, I compiled six volumes of medical prescriptions for my cousin Ye Jue (courtesy name Bocai). The preface discussed Yin and Yang, disease pulses, and syndromes, followed by an exposition on the causes of disease. It collected annotations on the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic), categorized into eighty-one sections, containing a certain number of prescriptions, titled *Genyuan Zhizhi* (Tracing the Source to Direct Treatment). At that time, Bocai was serving in the imperial court. Upon receiving this book, he wished to entrust it to influential figures for publication, but before he could do so, he passed away, and the project was abandoned. In the Jiawu year of the Chunxi era, I again discussed the essentials of medicine with friends Tang Zhi De Yuan and Qing Defu. We concluded that nothing surpasses the "Three Causes" (San Yin). To distinguish the causes, there is nothing superior to examining the pulse. Thus, citing the *Mai Jing*: "The one-fen area anterior to the Guan position is the master of human life. On the left is Renying (Human Welcome), and on the right is Qikou (Qi Port)." Generally, Renying is used to observe external causes, while Qikou is used to observe internal causes. Those that do not correspond to either Renying or Qikou all belong to non-internal and non-external causes. If one understands the Three Causes, no aspect of disease remains hidden. Therefore, it is said that the essence of medicine lies in this. Consequently, I compiled and collected applicable prescriptions, categorized into one hundred and eighty sections, obtaining over one thousand and fifty prescriptions, titled *Sanyin Ji Yi Bingyuan Lun Cui* (Essence of the Treatise on the Three Causes Leading to the Ultimate Source of Disease). Some might say: Current medical prescriptions are piled up like mountains; why not just point them out directly? What is the need for this? They fail to realize that collections from the Jin and Han dynasties do not suit contemporary needs. Some have confused ordering, others involve eclectic mixing; ancient texts are brief and omit details, chapter themes are unclear; popular books lack canonical basis, their principles are erroneous. Ignorant practitioners use them recklessly, resulting in ineffectiveness and harm. Without pruning the superfluous, one cannot grasp the key points. Therefore, I analyzed and expounded upon meanings previously unclarified by predecessors, hoping to open paths trodden by ancient sages and facilitate learning, allowing people to see the moon and forget the finger (i.e., perceive the essence beyond the signifier). Thus, I wrote this preface.

Preface by Chen Yan Wuyue of Hexi, Qingtian

To learn medicine, one must understand the Five Departments and Seven Matters. The Five Departments refer to pulse, disease, syndrome, treatment, and its cause; the Seven Matters refer to the division of causes into three categories, illustrating the concepts of comprehensiveness and conciseness. Pulse diagnosis is the gateway to medicine. Although it circulates through the whole body, its principles are subtle, vast as heaven and earth, and changing in harmony with Yin and Yang. The Six Qi (Six Excesses) weave through the void, and the Five Elements adhere to the earth, all subject to measurement and estimation. Thus, the Sages provided teachings on subtle phenomena; later scholars produced works such as the *Taisu* (Great Simplicity) and *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues). Zhang Zhongjing classified and collected earlier, and Wang Shuhe arranged them subsequently; their work was indeed clear and manifest. However, during the Six Dynasties, a man named Gaoyang Sheng plagiarized scriptures into rhymed verses, and Liu Yuanbin explained them, causing high-brow songs to find few harmonizers while vulgar songs found many. Scriptures were buried in broken jars, and the orthodox path obscured by obscure language, which is truly lamentable. Now, I select concise and essential meanings, discuss them clearly, distinguishing Renying and Qikou to differentiate internal and external causes; listing nine pulse positions of interior and exterior to narrate febrile diseases. The Six Channels will not be obscured, the Five Viscera will be clear. Identifying diseases and deducing causes will be as clear as pointing at one's palm. Categories will be explicit and items complete, text concise yet meaning detailed. If one pays attention, half of the understanding will already be achieved.