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The Xianyi Temple (Temple of Ancient Medical Masters) in Beijing was first built during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. (Note: The Sanhuang Temple (Temple of the Three Sovereigns) was constructed during the Zhenyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty, worshipping the Three Sovereigns and more than ten famous doctors from successive dynasties; it was officially named the Xianyi Temple at this time.) The current dynasty (Qing) followed this system, enshrining Fuxi in the center, Shennong on the left, and Huangdi on the right, all facing south; Goumang and Fenghou were seated in the east position facing west; Zhurong and Limu were seated in the west position facing east; the eastern corridor worshipped Jiuluoji, Tianshi, Qibo, Bogao, Shaoshi, Taiyi, Leigong, Yi Yin, Cangong Chunyu Yi, Hua Tuo, Huangfu Mi, Chao Yuanfang, Yao Wang Wei Cizang, Qian Yi, Liu Zongsu, Li Gao, all facing west; the western corridor worshipped Gui Yuqu, Yufu, Shaoyu, Tongjun, Ma Shihuang, Shenyingwang Bian Que, Zhang Ji, Wang Shuhe, Baopuzi Ge Hong, Zhenren Sun Simiao, Qiyuanzi Wang Bing, Zhu Gong, Zhang Yuansu, Zhu Yanxiu, all facing east. The north is regarded as the superior position, and officials are dispatched to offer sacrifices on the Jia days of the middle months in spring and winter each year. Note: Wei Cizang, whose name was Xundao, was a Tang dynasty figure who earned the title "Yao Wang" (Medicine King) for distributing medicine to save the world. In modern secular worship, the Medicine King is depicted in floral attire, and "Wang" is referred to as "Huang"; the origin of this custom is unknown. Qin Yue Ren from Bohai received secret arts from Sang Jun and thus mastered medical Dao. Because he resembled Bian Que from the time of Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor), he was called Bian Que. Since he lived in Lu State, he was also known as Lu Yi. It is erroneous for people to regard Lu Yi and Bian Que as two different individuals. This statement appears in Yang Yuancao's "Preface to the Annotated Nan Jing." Any person who becomes a famous doctor must have a master to transmit the skills. For example, Sun Wen Yuan (Yi Kui)'s master was Huang Gu Tan, and Zhang Jing Yue (Jie Bin)'s master was Jin Meng Shi. These students surpassed their masters, yet the masters' teachings relied on their disciples for transmission. Zhang Zhong Jing of the Han Dynasty is called the Sage of Medicine; his master was Zhang Bo Zu. If not for Zhang Zhong Jing, who would know of Zhang Bo Zu? Transmitting the Dao values finding the right person; this applies not only to the Confucian sages.

Zhang Zhong Jing is the Sage among physicians. Hua Yuan Hua (Hua Tuo) is the Immortal among physicians. They lived in the same era, yet Fan Ye (Fan Shi) only wrote a biography for Hua Yuan Hua; how can he be considered a good historian? In the Ming Dynasty, there were two individuals famous for medicine who held high official positions and were listed in historical records: Xu Shen and Wang Lun. Xu Shen served as a Minister of State and became prominent due to his medical skills. Wang Lun served as a Provincial Governor and continued practicing medicine even after achieving prominence. However, while Xu Shen could save the Shizong Emperor from near death, (the incident is recorded in the *History of Ming*, with more details in *Ye Huo Bian* and *Jin Yan*. *Ye Huo Bian* states: In the Renyin year of Jiajing, the Emperor was sleeping in the Concubine Duan's quarters when palace maids, led by Yang Jinying, conspired to assassinate him. They tied ropes around him, stuffed cloth in his mouth, and several people sat on his abdomen to strangle him. He was nearly dead, but fortunately, the maids did not know how to tie knots properly, so the ropes loosened. A gurgling sound was heard outside, and Empress Xiaolie led others to untie him. *Jin Yan* states: During the Western Garden Palace Incident, the Emperor's health was critical. Xu Shen administered blood-activating and purgative medicines such as Tao Ren (Peach Seed), Hong Hua (Safflower), and Da Huang (Rhubarb). Administered at Chen hour (7-9 AM), he made sounds at Wei hour (1-3 PM) and expelled several sheng of dark blood. By Shen hour (3-5 PM), he could speak. After three or four doses of Qi-calming and blood-activating medicines, the Emperor recovered. The following year, Xu Shen died of illness caused by anxiety over his treatment.) he could not cure his own palpitations and fright. (*History of Ming*: Xu Shen said upon falling ill: "During the previous palace incident, I believed I would not survive and would surely be killed, which caused my palpitations. This cannot be cured by medicine.") Wang Lun's treatments were invariably effective, yet he failed to recognize errors in his own medication. (*Continued Cases of Famous Doctors*: Jie Zhai suffered from abdominal pain and sought treatment from an Emei Daoist. The Daoist asked if he had taken any substances containing Qi and Blood that were insufficiently processed. Jie Zhai replied that he had taken Bu Yin Wan (Nourish Yin Pill) for decades, which contained Gui Jia (Tortoise Shell) prepared with wine. The Daoist said, "That is the cause. You should return home immediately." Jie Zhai submitted his resignation and died shortly after arriving in Wuchang, expelling numerous small red tortoises.) Is medicine easy?

The *History of Yuan · Biography of Arts and Skills* lists only Li Dong Yuan among physicians, stating that he studied the *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders) and excelled in treating carbuncles, ulcers, and eye diseases, but does not mention the Spleen and Stomach. Six clinical cases are recorded, none detailing the specific herbs used. Historical records generally follow this pattern, albeit briefly.

Among Daoists, the most famous for knowing medicine is Cui Zi Xu; among monks, there are Shen Shi, Jing Shan Fu Tu, and Shi Shen Rou He Shang; among eunuchs, there is Luo Da Wu Zhi Ti; among women, there are Xu Shi, mother of Hu Zong Ren, and her daughter-in-law Li Shi. Physicians bear the heavy responsibility of life and death and understand the subtleties of nature and life; thus, everyone ought to learn it, though not everyone is capable of doing so.

In ancient times, Yu Fu treated diseases by cutting skin, dissecting muscles, washing intestines and stomachs, and cleansing the five Zang organs. Hua Yuan Hua still transmitted these techniques, described in history as opening the abdomen and back to extract accumulations. After Hua Yuan Hua, no one else was known to possess these skills. Although he had disciples Wu Pu and Fan A, they did not fully grasp the mysteries. Was it that such miraculous arts were not transmitted to those unworthy?

The annotation for Case 20 in the "Strange Diseases Section" of Volume 30 of *Continued Cases of Famous Doctors* states: Qian Guo Bin was from Qiantang and lived during the Wanli era. He authored forty cases in *Shou Shi Tang Yi An* (Medical Cases of the Longevity Hall), mostly concerning strange diseases. The printed edition was borrowed from Tai Shi Jin Fu in Hangzhou, totaling thirty-two characters. It is absent from the Ge Ben (Ge Collection) but present in the Wei Family Collection's Strange Diseases Section. Qian's discussion of the disease "Rou Xing" (Flesh Walking/Flowing) supplements the gaps in plague literature. He stated: In the winter of the Gui Hai year, a seasonal epidemic occurred in the Shanhai region. Patients suffered from headache, fever, nausea, thirst, coma, drowsiness, and immobility of the limbs. Their flesh, when pushed, formed a mound, but smoothed out flat again. Some physicians treated it as Shang Han (Cold Damage), others as Shi Qi (Seasonal Miasma); administering dispersing medicines invariably worsened the condition, resulting in hundreds of deaths. At that time, the Commander-in-Chief Sun and his assistant each lost a servant. By the spring of the Yi Chou year, Qian Guo Bin visited the Grand Preceptor at the gate. During their conversation, the Grand Preceptor asked about this. Qian said: This disease is a seasonal epidemic named "Rou Xing." Human flesh belongs to Earth; dry earth collapses, wet earth flows. The pathogen affects the blood vessels and muscles, differing from Shang Han. It is not recorded in ancient or modern medical collections, appearing only in an official household remedy book. Due to depleted human blood and infection with abnormal seasonal Qi, one should heavily tonify blood using Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum), Gou Qi (Goji Berry), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), and Di Huang (Rehmannia), with a small amount of Qiang Huo (Notopterygium) and other wind-dispelling herbs to address the disease. Dispersing treatment would certainly lead to immediate death. He also treated a case where heel sounds resonated up to the head like thunder. Pulse diagnosis showed harmony in five positions, except for the Kidney pulse, which was large and hollow (Kou), visible only upon light pressure and faint upon deep pressure, indicating Kidney failure. The Kidney Meridian runs from the foot to the head; the Kidney governs bones. Kidney deficiency leads to bodily emptiness, causing resonance and bone noise. Treatment with Liu Wei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) plus Zi He Che Gao (Placenta Paste), Hu Gu Gao (Tiger Bone Paste), Zhu Sui (Pork Marrow), Gou Qi, and Du Zhong (Eucommia) resulted in recovery. He also treated reddish-brown strips on both upper arms, thick-headed, thin-tailed, swollen bellies, about one chi long and one cun wide. He said: This is an abnormal Qi of the green snake. If not treated urgently, the snake form will enter the abdomen causing death, or appear on the thighs/calves. If the head points upward, entering the abdomen is also fatal. Puncture the head and tail with a needle to prevent movement, drain the foul blood, apply crushed Ming Xiong Huang (Realgar) mixed with saliva to the lesion, and internally administer Qing Liang Bai Du San (Cooling and Detoxifying Powder) for recovery. (Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Bai Zhi, Qiang Huo, Huang Qin, Huang Lian, Jin Yin Hua, Huai Zi, Gan Cao, Dang Gui, Sheng Di each 1 qian.) From this, we see Qian was a renowned master of his time, yet rarely known today. Without *Continued Cases of Famous Doctors*, would he not have been forgotten?

*Gu Jin Yi An Lei An* states: Mr. Gao Guo Zai was a senior disciple of Wang Jin Tan. As mentioned in the preface to *Zhun Sheng*, he was a reclusive scholar from Jiashan. I often heard elders recount his miraculous healing abilities since childhood. He authored *Yi Lin Guang Jian* and *Za Zheng*, neither of which were printed; copies were treasured like precious jade. He also left several volumes of medical cases with many ingenious prescriptions, though some were hazardous and difficult to attempt lightly. I select a few items here to preserve local literary heritage. One entry in Volume 7 states: Wei Zi Yi suffered from dry lips. He self-medicated with Mai Dong (Ophiopogon) 1 liang, Sheng Di (Rehmannia) 4 qian, Yuan Shen (Scrophularia) 2 qian, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra) 1 qian, Gan Cao (Licorice) 6 fen, and Wu Mei (Mume Fruit) 3 pieces. Although there was slight improvement, the root cause remained. Mr. Gao said: This condition requires Shen Shui (Divine Water). The method involves melting lead, pouring it onto the ground to form thin sheets, collecting them, cutting them into strips, drilling a hole in one end, and suspending it over a pot. Place burning wine in the pot, cover with an inverted basin close to the lead sheet, and heat the pot. The boiling wine vapor rises to the lead sheet, condensing into water drops falling into the basin, called Divine Water. Taking this water works because it rises from below, lifting Kidney Water to relieve upper dryness. Note: The *Ben Cao Gang Mu* describes Divine Water as rainwater collected from bamboo poles at noon on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, with different indications. This can supplement prescription books and is recorded here.