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Zhang (referring to the author Feng Zhaozhang) lost his father in childhood. His mother strictly supervised him, and he studied Confucian classics bitterly. Later, due to frequent illnesses and his weak physical strength making it difficult to sustain a livelihood, he decided to study medicine. He followed teachers to seek medical wisdom, practiced medicine for over ten years, and extensively read various books. Only then did he realize that the Great Dao holds no secrets; everything is contained within the volumes of ancient sages. Thus, he energetically compiled works such as the *Neijing* (Inner Canon), major and minor miscellaneous diseases, medicinal properties, smallpox and rashes, gynecology, surgery, and pulse diagnosis manuals into twenty-plus categories. Subsequently, through clinical practice, he verified diseases with book knowledge and matched prescriptions to symptoms. Acupuncture and needling techniques corresponded precisely, without the slightest error. He secretly rejoiced that the prescriptions and theories left by ancient sages were not erroneous. As his experience grew, he gained insights that resonated from heart to hand, which seemed difficult to describe in words. Consequently, he came to believe even more firmly that the saying "no fixed prescription is applicable" is not wrong. He sought the ultimate truth of primordial essence even in his dreams, realizing it ultimately resides in what one is born with. Thus, he believed even more strongly that "there are no books worth reading" is also not wrong. If this is the case, should all prescriptions and theories be unrecorded and untransmitted? Nevertheless, the discussions and prescriptions of ancient sages are like doors, courtyards, and paths in a house. Without passing through them, how can one enter the hall and room to reach a place of rest? Therefore, though I have wandered in the dusty world and labored like an ox or horse for half my life, while others may love or hate me, I vow sincerity. Not disregarding my own limitations, I swear to complete this collection. Those who understand me will likely be these few; those who blame me will likely be these few too.

On the 16th day of the sixth month of the Jiaxu year, the humble student Feng Zhaozhang records.

1. Medicine originated with Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo. The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) has transmitted its teachings for millennia, elucidating thoroughly the creation of heaven and earth's yin and yang, and the safety or peril of human diseases. Although famous doctors of successive dynasties have produced lofty theories, none could exceed this scope. However, due to the numerous volumes, it is difficult to read them all comprehensively. I have compiled the most essential points into the first chapter, enabling students to grasp the sages' ultimate truths upon opening the book, facilitating a consistent understanding across other texts.

2. Heaven has seasons of growth, flourishing, harvesting, and storage; humans have normal stages of youth, vigor, old age, and frailty. Differences in lifespan and distinct variations in prosperity and decline arise from yin-yang imbalance and harm caused by water and fire, rooted either in congenital factors or acquired later in life. Therefore, the following sections detail the foundation of life established by water and fire, the function of yin-yang strength and weakness, and the distinction between congenital and acquired factors. This allows readers to grasp the ultimate truths of the *Neijing* immediately, understand the true essence of preserving life, and enables both the wise and the foolish to eliminate disease and prolong life, allowing people of all ages to maintain health without medication. This is Feng Zhaozhang's humble wish.

3. Next, we discuss diseases caused by yin-yang imbalance. Heaven experiences excesses of the Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire); humans experience variations among hundreds of diseases. From congenital conditions present at birth to ailments of the head, eyes, ears, nose, lips, chest, hypochondrium, shoulders, back, waist, abdomen, legs, and feet, as well as conditions caused by Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire, fright, infantile malnutrition (Jing Gan), vomiting and diarrhea, Cold Damage (Shanghan), malaria, wind consumption, and abdominal distension/chest obstruction, each category is covered. Surgery, gynecology, and four-character pulse diagnosis formulas are appended at the end. Arranged from heaven to humanity, youth to old age, top to bottom, inside to outside, male to female, form to pulse, everything follows a strict order without disorder.

4. Since heaven and humanity share the same yin-yang principles, various diseases often correspond with climatic cycles. Infants, being close to their congenital state, have unstable spirit and qi, making them particularly susceptible to external influences. Therefore, smallpox outbreaks occur more frequently in years corresponding to Zi, Wu, Mao, and You, and symptoms often align with the annual heavenly stems and earthly branches. Thus, the Five Movements and Six Qi are integrated herein; do not dismiss this as pedantic.

5. Ancient pediatric theories focused solely on congenital factors. Even when discussing vomiting, diarrhea, fright, and malnutrition, the theories were shallow and brief. They failed to address changes in deficiency/excess and prosperity/decline associated with acquired factors in adulthood. Conversely, adult medical theories focused only on acquired factors, ignoring the thickness or thinness of congenital endowment. This artificially splits a person into two parts. Moreover, children often fall ill due to acquired factors, while adults may suffer from congenital weaknesses. How can we neglect investigating the root causes? Therefore, this book discusses pediatric treatment first, followed by adult pulse and syndrome treatment, clarifying both sequences and depths of theory.

6. Treating pediatric diseases is more difficult than treating adults or women. Children easily injure the Liver through anger and the Spleen through excessive eating. Adults injure the Kidneys through excessive desires, the Heart through overthinking, the Spleen through stagnant thoughts, the Liver through irritation, and the Lungs through grief. Thus, pediatric treatment methods resemble washing clothes to remove dirt, addressing mostly superficial symptoms (Biao). Adult treatment methods resemble nurturing tree roots, addressing fundamental symptoms (Ben). However, some children get sick due to congenital weakness, and some adults due to overeating damaging the Stomach. Children suffering from deficiency and adults suffering from excess can be cross-referenced. Furthermore, qi and blood imbalances cause diverse manifestations. When adults contract pediatric diseases or vice versa, treatments cannot be rigidly applied. Hence, this book lists pediatric cases (mostly Biao symptoms) first, followed by adult cases (mostly Ben symptoms). This aligns with the natural order of growth, ensuring therapies follow regular patterns of purging and tonifying. By studying each category independently yet comparatively, one grasps the subtleties of deficiency and excess, deepening the understanding of dynamic changes.

7. Ancient pediatric theories were shallow and brief, failing to clarify disease origins. Pediatricians could easily treat food stagnation or wind-cold but struggled with complex cases involving seven emotions, six depressions, congenital yin-yang deficiency, or menstrual irregularities in women around age fourteen (two sevens). In modern times, unlike antiquity, people's constitutions are weaker, and natures less pure. Men under sixteen and women under fourteen often develop diseases due to sexual desire. One cannot simply apply the "pure yang" theory rigidly. Additionally, during epidemic smallpox, men, women, and pregnant women are affected, requiring mastery of various prescriptions and pulses. Although spiritual essence varies, organ systems, yin-yang, qi, and blood remain consistent. Deep reasons are hard to grasp from shallow ones. Therefore, sincere pediatricians must study pediatric texts thoroughly and consult adult medical theories. This compilation places pediatric original theories and prescriptions first, followed by alternative theories and prescriptions from other texts for comparison, broadening knowledge. Medication is like warfare; slight disciplinary errors lead to immediate victory or defeat. Ancient and modern prescriptions have their strengths; I have gathered them like patches to make a coat. As the Classic states: "Small yet great, knowing one thing reveals the harm of a hundred diseases; shallow yet extensive, knowing one thing reveals a hundred."

8. My talent is limited and learning shallow; my language is not elegant, but I strive for clarity. I dare not indulge in empty rhetoric that harms practical truth.

9. All prescriptions and theories are derived from ancient sages. However, long-standing transmission may contain copying errors. I have corrected them: filling gaps, expanding summaries, correcting errors, and clarifying obscurities. I aim for innovation, avoiding mere imitation.

10. Theories must adhere to the "Kingly Way" of moderation. Among foods, grains are prioritized as they embody the righteous qi of heaven and earth. Medical theories must be balanced, relevant to symptoms, and effective in treatment. Purely theoretical discussions based on Five Elements generation and restriction, however logical sounding, are often vacuous and irrelevant to actual treatment. These are appended at the end to avoid misleading beginners, yet retained to preserve knowledge.

11. This book covers conditions from conception to infancy and adulthood comprehensively, resolving doubts and preventing helplessness during clinical practice.

12. Treatment requires clear understanding of meridians. I have detailed organs, yin-yang, generation/restriction cycles, and physical signs to help practitioners find the root cause, like finding a key for a lock, avoiding speculation that violates the way of life. Understanding meridians is as crucial to a doctor as knowing the path is to a boatman.

13. Although adult diseases vary, they stem from the Six Qi. Pediatric miscellaneous diseases are numerous, but fright, malnutrition, vomiting, and diarrhea are critical. After discussing the Six Qi and key pediatric conditions, I categorize deficiency/excess and cold/heat syndromes, adding appropriate tonifying, purging, warming, and neutral herbs. This allows future practitioners to select medicines flexibly rather than relying rigidly on fixed formulas. Ancient formula creation was methodological. Luo Shi said using ancient formulas for modern diseases is like dismantling old materials to build new houses. I present ancient formulas as standard methods and living methods for adaptation, ensuring suitability without needing to dismantle old structures. Ancients were frugal and cautious, protecting their Middle Qi from external pathogens, thus requiring dispersing and ventilating treatments. Modern people are lazy and extravagant, damaging their Middle Qi internally through stress and excess, thus requiring nourishing and tonifying treatments. This difference in era explains the variation in medication strategies.