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The Way of Medicine is difficult to describe. Yet, amidst complex and ambiguous situations, summarizing it with the single character "Yi" (Easy), why is it so "easy"? Xiuyuan (Chen Xiuyuan) also did not wish to show people this "Yi". However, when prescribing at the bedside, physicians cite either the *Neijing* (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) or the works of Zhang Zhongjing, but listeners do not understand what they mean. When encountering those who merely treat phlegm when seeing phlegm, or treat blood when seeing bleeding, people happily follow them. Xiuyuan worries about this, fearing that the medical Way will remain unclear, leading to adherence to outdated and simplistic methods to cater to popular tastes, which harms the medical Way; he also fears the medical Way remains unclear, so he specifically points out the "Shizai" (Substantial/Real) aspects as the starting point for practice. By listing the obvious manifestations of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels as the basis for each pulse, and citing definitive, unchanging symptoms as the basis for each syndrome, the clues are in hand, allowing for free manipulation. This is the utmost degree of "Yi" (Ease). Showing this "Yi" is intended to make people happy with its ease and thus willing to read it. After reading for a long time, one realizes that diseases have fixed names, formulas have fixed methods, and herbs have specific functions, all returning to the "substantial" truths. Upon encountering those who merely treat phlegm or blood, one no longer follows them with joy as before, and the medical Way becomes clear.

Xiuyuan has produced many works. During his tenure in Jifu, when great floods occurred at Hengshan, causing a cold epidemic among the survivors, he administered prescriptions that saved many lives. Passing through Jiangsu, he visited Vice Governor Wang Jiamen, who reviewed the work and approved it, leading to its dissemination throughout the country. Now, upon returning to Jifu, Xiuyuan completed this book in twenty days, significantly different from his previous works. I know Xiuyuan's intention is not only to awaken practitioners ("knife and mortar" experts) but also to encourage gentlemen who cultivate their health to determine eight syndromes according to the eight pulses, just as holding a compass determines the Zi-Wu (North-South) axis. It is visible to the eye, pointable by the hand, and speakable by the mouth; if considered "easy," then it is indeed "easy."

Xu Yushu, the Daoist with shallow knowledge, respectfully inscribed this.

1. This book selects Floating, Sinking, Slow, Rapid, Fine, Large, Short, and Long as the outlines of pulses, attaching other similar pulses to them. It selects Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, Excess, Decline, and Prosperity as the outlines of syndromes, attaching related syndromes to them. Running through to the end in one line, it is the clearest book hitherto.

2. After discussing syndromes, this book adds a poem to facilitate memorization. Occasionally, there are slight differences between the poem and the discussion; one should study the subtlety of arriving at the same goal via different paths.

3. This book aims only for clarity without obscurity and comprehensiveness without omission, not seeking excellence through literary elegance. Where limited by syndromes and formulas, it cannot strictly conform to standard forms, so it不得不 (has to) slightly alter its structure.

4. Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) uses the Six Channels as outlines, while the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), being a book on miscellaneous diseases, groups similar disease-syndromes together. Their diseases, syndromes, formulas, and treatments can be cross-referenced, such as combining Baihe Bing (Lily Disease), Huo Huo Bing (Fox-Confusion Disease), and Yin-Yang Du into one chapter; Fengzhong (Wind Strike) and Lijie (Joint Traveler/Gout) into one chapter; and Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) into one chapter, etc. This book takes the eight characters of Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Deficiency, Excess, Prosperity, and Decline as the main theme. It first lists the Exterior syndromes of the *Shanghan*, then combines other diseases belonging to the Exterior category, following this pattern for the rest. Its structure imitates the *Jingui Yaolue*. The principle is that using the Six Channels to govern all diseases is an unchangeable rule, and using one case to illuminate another is a quick method for enlightenment.

5. This book collects the essence from the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), *Neijing*, *Nanjing*, Zhang Zhongjing's works, *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Gold Formulas), *Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials from the Outer Cabinet), *Shengji Zonglu* (General Records of Holy Relief), *Huo Ren Shu* (Book of Life), and other texts, as well as works by Yuan and Ming dynasty scholars and contemporary sages. It selects the purest parts, condensing thousands of words into a short space, expressed in common, accessible language. Everyone can understand it. Even those unfamiliar with medicine, if suddenly ill, can precisely medicate according to the syndrome without error. Its brilliance lies in being shallow yet easy to understand. If one studies this deeply, obtaining this book allows one to summarize other books through it, and realize the content of books where none exist, akin to finding ease within difficulty. The benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom; the flavor here is understood only by those within the field.

6. Former sages, while studying as scholars, took the welfare of the people as their responsibility. In the early summer of the Xinyou year, I went to Jifu for examinations; in the autumn of the next year, I returned home to study the *Liji* (Book of Rites); in mid-spring of the Wuchen year, I arrived again. Apart from official duties, I simply sat quietly and read. Thinking that my appointment was uncertain, and having practiced medicine for over thirty years, if I could share this Way with others, I could save those dying young and bless the people. Perhaps acting without waiting for opportunity is better than waiting.

7. This book was completed in the official residence of Baoyang, not to show "ease" to contemporary physicians. I deeply pity families with sick members who do not know how to choose a physician, allowing mistakes to occur, leading to mild cases becoming severe and severe cases resulting in immediate death. Thus, I had to present the general outline and demonstrate its "ease," so that opening the book brings clarity and confidence, enabling one to interact with physicians effectively. In a brief exchange, one can discern the physician's competence and make correct choices. After retiring in the Jimao year, my students repeatedly requested publication. I feared the book might be too plain, potentially encouraging superficial simplicity, so I excerpted original texts from the *Neijing* after each syndrome to show that tracing the source requires going to the root, speaking to those above average capacity. I am old; my learning advances with age. What seems difficult is not difficult, and what seems "easy" is not truly "easy."

My late father wrote over ten medical books. Only four were published during his spare time. The *Shallow Notes on the Shanghan Lun* was finalized and printed by me. For the unpublished manuscripts, everyone eagerly awaited their release.

While my late father was alive, he reviewed the draft of *Shallow Notes on the Jingui*, spending years reorganizing it and continuing to submit it to printers. He once commanded me: "You must strive to inherit your father's will, print all his遗书 (posthumous writings) for the public, and do not keep them secret." I respectfully noted this and dare not forget. In the Xinchou year, I first printed the four volumes of *Nuke Yaozhi* (Essentials of Gynecology), then continued checking various manuscripts. There was Zeng Cheng (Name).

My late father ordered that the proofread and error-free text be: *Yixue Shizai Yi* (Medical Practice is Substantially Easy), comprising eight volumes. We carefully copied the manuscript for carving. The remaining chapters will follow.

Your grandson, Xin Dian, respectfully records this.