Library

Mr. Fu Shan was a renowned scholar of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and a loyalist of the former dynasty. During the Kangxi reign, he was summoned to the capital for the "Boxue Hongci" (Erudite and Literary) examination but requested to return home due to old age and illness; hence he is also referred to as "Zhengjun" (a title for a recluse scholar). His learning was profound: he observed heaven above and earth below, comprehending Yin and Yang. Poetry and prose were merely his pastimes. Even in the teachings of Buddhism and Daoism, he extensively explored their depths, while Confucian doctrine was but a minor aspect to him. Uniquely, he mastered the secrets of Zhang Zhongjing, expounded upon theories not previously revealed by predecessors, and prescribed formulas and herbs that appeared plain and unremarkable yet produced miraculous effects.

Old families in Shanxi (Shanyou) possessed copies of Mr. Fu’s *Gynecology* (*Nüke*). The book categorized treatments for regulating menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth, with specific formulas for each, which were widely copied and circulated. In the Jiaqing reign, a benevolent man in Pingyang Prefecture began printing the book to make it public. Those who obtained it found that matching symptoms with formulas yielded immediate results. I previously acquired a copy in Shanxi, which was later taken by Mr. Lin from Anhui. The Lin family had been physicians for generations; Mr. Lin considered this unprecedented treasure a rare gem. Recently, a reprint in Jiangxi contained numerous errors, causing me deep concern that it might mislead patients. I wished to republish it but failed to do so.

In early autumn of the Renzi year, my wife, Lady Jiang, suffered from stroke-induced right-sided hemiplegia. She survived after taking Zaizao Wan, but walking with her right foot remained difficult. In her letter to me, she mentioned being advised to recite texts such as the *Xishi Buddhist Scripture*, *Jingxin Lu*, or *Anshi Deng* as acts of confession and disaster mitigation. This reminded me that such religious books are often disregarded by those lacking reverence; scholars leave them unread, and ignorant rural women even use them to bind threads, which is a grave desecration. Such actions increase sin rather than eliminate disasters. In contrast, Mr. Fu’s *Gynecology*, if read by literate individuals who lack medical access, allows them to follow the formulas to save lives. This seems superior to distributing religious scriptures. I hope you will consider this proposal.

Upon receiving this letter, I agreed entirely. I searched among officials who had served in Shanxi and now resided in Shaanxi but could not find a copy. Eventually, I obtained a version printed by Mr. Qi Ercheng at the residence of Magistrate Han Baochen. Mr. Qi’s annotations were particularly detailed. I promptly arranged for its publication to fulfill this intention. Although this is an intentional act of kindness, driven by a woman’s sincere desire to preserve life, it may invite divine blessing and promote good deeds, though such outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Thus, I record this postscript.

Recorded by Guan Tongshen Chucunfu, a native of Daxing, in the first month of summer during the Yimao year of the Xianfeng era, at Lezhi Caotang in ancient Chang'an.