Library

The origins of medicine trace back to the ancient emperors, with books filling homes. Classic prescriptions and pulse theories each possess their own specialized fields. Shining upon one another across time, they are numerous enough to fill entire libraries. Only wandering physicians who shake bells for a living constitute a separate category. Those who practice this skill learn through oral transmission from master to apprentice, passing down methods in succession. Generally, they borrow fragments from the theories of former sages to adjust dosages or indications, sometimes boasting of divine revelation or marveling at Buddhist transmissions. Their prescriptions are mostly based on those of the ancients, yet they fail to fully comprehend the original intent of these ancients. Consequently, there have been no dedicated books on them since antiquity, and people tend to look down upon them as mere entertainers. Their disciples often rely on this craft to make a living in the jianghu (martial arts world/underground society), keeping their primary formulas secret while mutually exposing others' secrets. However, when treating illnesses opportunistically in remote villages or cities, they often achieve miraculous results, appearing superior to those self-proclaimed famous doctors who are stingy and arrogant. I have read the "Biography of Cang Gong" and the biographies of figures like Chu Sheng from the Six Dynasties, as well as records by Su Shi and Shen Kuo in recent times; their observations and prescriptions also seem to align secretly with this tradition. This shows that the lineage of bell-shaking street medicine has a long history and clear origins. Perhaps it is akin to landscape painting: many can achieve similarity, but few attain unique excellence!

Mr. Zhao Shuxuan, my fellow townsman, compiled the book *Chuan Ya* (String Elegance). He likely encountered virtuous bell physicians who did not hoard their knowledge but taught it all to him. Mr. Zhao removed the bizarre and verbose elements, incorporated materials from secret collections, and refined them into an elegant and orthodox form, compiling them into a finished book. His dedication was profound! In the early Xianfeng era, it was published by a certain gentleman from Yuhang, but before it could spread widely, it was suddenly destroyed during the Geng-Xin calamities (referring to the Taiping Rebellion). Only a few copies remained in the hands of private collectors.

Vice Minister Xu Songge came to Hangzhou in the spring of the Yihai year, borrowed the book from the Eight Thousand Volumes Pavilion of the Ding family, took it home, and had it copied. Before departing, he entrusted me with printing it to share with fellow enthusiasts. Thus, I requested Mr. Wu Pingge (courtesy name Gengsheng) to add supplementary annotations, listed item by item afterwards. Pingge is deeply knowledgeable in medicine, and his annotations are well-founded, sufficient to enrich this book.

Recorded by Xu Zeng Ma Sun of Renhe in mid-summer of the Gengyin year, Guangxu reign.

Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 1 jin, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) 0.5 jin. Wash, dry, and grind into powder. Make pills using water paste, sized like wutong seeds. For exogenous pathogens, take with Scallion and Ginger Decoction; for endogenous injuries, take with Rice Decoction; for Qi disorders, take with Muxiang Tang (Aucklandia Decoction), or use Chenxiang (Aquilaria Lignum) or Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) according to circumstances; for Blood disorders, take with Wine; for Phlegm disorders, take with Ginger Decoction; for Fire disorders, take with plain boiled water; other cases may be inferred by analogy.