Library

[Biographies of Famous Doctors by Gan (Bozong)] (Recorded as *Records of Famous Doctors Through the Ages* in the *History of Song*), recorded as seven volumes in the *New Book of Tang*, is lost.
[Medical History by Li (Lian)], recorded as ten volumes in the *Ming History*, is extant.
The General Principles state: For famous doctors through the ages, those recorded in historical biographies have been carefully and completely collected in the first five volumes. Those scattered among various literary collections are also recorded to supplement omissions, and these are listed in the latter five volumes. Ancient famous doctors who already had biographies in previous histories have been included. As for figures such as Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Qixuanzi (Wang Bing), who are all patriarchs of medicine, it would indeed be impossible to omit their biographies; thus, new biographies are now supplemented for them. Figures lacking factual basis, such as Wu Xian, Wu Peng, Jiao Shi, Yu Shi, Lu Shi, Cui Wenzi, and Gongsun Guang, are omitted. Regarding prefaces, records, and miscellaneous essays written about famous doctors found in various literary collections, there are too many to record exhaustively, so these chapters are entirely excluded. Scholars whose academic roots lie in the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) and *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) and whose medical methods are pure and upright are included. Conversely, figures like Fotu Cheng and Dandao Kai recorded in the *Book of Jin*, whose accounts involve considerable superstition and absurdity, are rejected and excluded to avoid confusing later generations. Any observations or insights not covered in the original biographies, or occasional personal reflections, are quietly appended after the respective biographies to inform readers. Modern famous doctors, such as Liu Shouzhen, Zhang Zihe, and Li Mingzhi, produced numerous works and achieved remarkable therapeutic results, yet the *History of Jin* records them very briefly. Now, relying solely on historical records, no additions are made.

The *Draft History of Ming* states: Li Lian, courtesy name Chuanfu, was from Xiangfu. He ranked first in the provincial examination in the eighth year of Zhengde. The following year, he passed the metropolitan examination and was appointed Prefect of Mianyang. He was subsequently promoted to Vice Prefect of Ningbo, and then to Commissioner of Shanxi. In the fifth year of Jiajing, he was dismissed due to a general evaluation and returned home at the age of thirty-eight. In his youth, Li Lian boasted of his talent and often rode with young chivalrous men out of the city to hunt beasts and pheasants. When drunk, he would sing sorrowful songs with great emotion, admiring the character of Hou Sheng, a retainer of Lord Xinling. One day, he wrote the *Ode on Reasoning Emotions*. His friend Zuo Guoji showed it to Li Mengyang, who greatly admired it and visited him at Chuitai. From then on, Li Lian’s fame spread throughout the Heluo region. After being dismissed, he devoted himself even more to study and became renowned for his classical prose. Initially appreciated by Li Mengyang, he later refused to conform or flatter. He lived in his hometown for over forty years and produced a rich body of work.

The *Abstract of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries* states: *Medical History*, ten volumes, written by Li Lian of the Ming Dynasty. This compilation collects famous doctors from ancient times, starting from Yi He in the *Zuo Zhuan* up to Li Gao of the Yuan Dynasty, totaling fifty-five individuals found in historical biographies. It also extracts entries from various literary collections, from Zhang Kuo of the Song Dynasty up to Zhang Yangzheng, totaling ten individuals. Among them, Zhang Ji (Zhongjing), Wang Shuhe, Wang Bing (Qixuanzi), Wang Lv, Dai Yuanli, and Ge Yinglei, six individuals, have biographies supplemented by Li Lian. After each biography, Li Lian appends his own commentary and judgment. However, regarding Yi He diagnosing the Marquis of Jin and predicting Zhao Meng’s death, based on Yi He’s statement “the master cannot withstand it,” this appears to be a judgment based on human affairs and heavenly principles, yet Li Lian considers him the ancestor of Taisu Pulse diagnosis. In the *Biography of Bian Que*, Zhao Jianzi, Duke Huan of Qi, and the Ruler of Guo belong to different eras; this error stems from the *Shiji*’s tendency toward sensationalism, which Li Lian fails to correct. Ge Hong belonged to Daoism and merely compiled medical formulas without notable miraculous validations, yet he is included indiscriminately. Consequently, Tao Hongjing, who authored the *Bie Lu* (Supplement to Materia Medica) and contributed significantly to materia medica, is inexplicably omitted. The posthumous writings of Chu Cheng are obviously forgeries, yet Li Lian fails to distinguish them and treats them as authentic. Regarding the Song dynasty monk Zhiyuan, the biography only mentions he was “skilled in medicine” without any specific cases of effective treatment; he is included merely because he knew Taisu pulse diagnosis, which is distinctly different from Zhang Kuo, who has detailed medical cases. Including him in medical biographies is particularly excessive. Yuan Jilugu (Note: originally written as Zhi Lugu, corrected here) has no specific deeds to recount; a biography is hastily created for him based solely on the phrase “long skilled in medicine, specializing in acupuncture and moxibustion.” If this criterion applies, how many others should be given biographies? While Li Lian’s other works are quite commendable, this book is excessively verbose and disorganized, which is hard to understand. Only his discussion of Cang Gong (Chunyu Yi), the divine doctor, noting that he had five daughters but no sons, and that his teacher Gongcheng Yangqing was also over seventy and childless, serves as evidence that physicians lack methods for male offspring. This insight is unprecedented in history and worthy of adoption.

[Medical Forest Historical Biographies by Cheng (Yifang)], four volumes in *Yi Cang Mu Lu*, not seen.
[External Biographies of the Medical Forest], six volumes in *Yi Cang Mu Lu*, not seen.
[Supplementary Biographies from History], one volume in *Yi Cang Mu Lu*, not seen.
[Ancient and Modern Medical History by Wang (Honghan)], not seen.
Note: The above are recorded in the *Wuxian County Gazetteer*.
[Biographies of Medical Practitioners by Cheng (Yunpeng)], not seen.
Cheng Yunpeng states: *Biographies of Medical Practitioners*, from Xuanyuan and Qibo onwards, there has never been a lack of practitioners in each generation. (Compiled into a collection.) To highlight their merits and refute their errors, so that learners may know where to turn, and the people may find relief.
Note: [Catalogue of Medical Collections by Yin (Zhongchun)], one volume, extant.
Yin Zhongchun states: I have always loved medical books, regretting that I could not see more of them. While I was in Ningguo, having leisure time, Mr. Zhu Chunyu from Jiangxi, who had long known and associated with various medical practitioners and official families in Ningguo, brought some books for my inspection under the order of Rao Daozun. Only then did I realize the vastness and depth of medical literature. It is now arranged into over ten boxes, with titles marked for each box, so that benevolent persons may seek these books and broadly benefit all living beings. Rao Daozun, the Provincial Education Commissioner of Zhejiang, passionately loved medical texts and collected extensively. Ningguo Richu examined, verified, and corrected the collection daily, though not completing all volumes, he merely recorded the titles.
He further states: The title *Yi Cang Lu* (Catalogue of Medical Collections) is derived from the Buddha’s Dharma Treasury, established provisionally to save and deliver sentient beings. Nothing is more revered and respected by the world than Buddhist scriptures, nor is anything more widely beneficial. In the past, Yu Xin plagiarized Buddhist records to embellish his writing, resulting in karmic retribution. I borrow the name of the Tathagata’s Treasury to alleviate distress, just as Ji An issued grain to relieve famine under false imperial orders, and Emperor Wu of Han, though a wise ruler, did not punish him. Similarly, when the Zhou court ceased receiving tribute, Huan of Qi and Wen of Jin were compelled to command the feudal lords. Moreover, the Buddhist canon contains the Medicine Buddha Sutra; through worship, repentance, and chanting, one can attain coolness and liberation from calamity. The medical canon, similarly, may perhaps forgive worldly sins.

[Ancient and Modern Bibliography of Medical Texts by Wang (Honghan)], not seen.
Note: The above is recorded in the *Wuxian County Gazetteer*.