Library

Preface One:
Governor Yunge and I are not only fellow townsmen but also served in the same department, so our rapport was long-standing. Last summer, when I was inspecting this region, Governor Yunge assumed office as the prefect of this commandery this summer. Reuniting with an old friend, what joy could surpass this? However, shortly after Governor Yunge arrived at his post, I happened to suffer from fire (heat pathogen) rushing upward from the Heart, Lung, and Stomach meridians, resulting in ulcerated gums, swollen lips, suppuration, pain, and unbearable irritability; he kindly prescribed Ganlu Yin (Sweet Dew Decoction), and after one dose my condition lightened, and after two doses I was cured. Alas! How exquisite his medical skills and how divine his techniques! When he presented me with the hand-printed *Yixue Zaicui* (Selected Essence of Medicine), I then learned that he had been immersed in it for over twenty years. This book extracts the essentials and discards the superfluous, demonstrating unique insights into formulas, pulse diagnosis, miscellaneous diseases, and drug properties. It is truly a precious treasure for benefiting the people and a remarkable compilation for saving the world. Coincidentally, Sima Xiao Xisan urgently requested its reprinting to benefit future generations. Therefore, presuming upon my own shallowness and ignorance, I have respectfully appended a few words to the beginning of the book to express my admiration.

Signed by Mingbao, your humble younger fellow townsman, at the Wuliang Official Residence, in the early autumn of the Dingyou year of the Guangxu reign.

Preface Two:
Vast indeed! Medicine is like the ocean, boundless and without shore. Without someone imparting the precious raft for crossing, who can be the first to ascend the other bank? Fan Zhiming is not proficient in medicine; how dare he boast about discussing medicine? Yet, he wrongfully accepted the position of teacher. If he does not study medical arts, how can he inspire the younger generation? Thus, he investigated drug properties with Shennong, explored the roots of diseases with Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo, collected prescriptions from Zhang Zhongjing, and further consulted the philosophical masters of later generations, searching widely and viewing far, studying for several years. He remains diligent and cautious every day, fearing lest he fail to obtain the true transmission of this Dao. Now, fortunately, he met Mr. Qingyunge, who produced the book *Yixue Zaicui*. Reading it, I felt as if I had obtained the precious raft for crossing the ferry. Observing his work on Shanghan (Cold Damage), he clearly classifies the specific syndromes and combined syndromes of exterior, interior, cold, heat, deficiency, and excess, supplementing what the original text omitted and revealing secrets unexplored for two millennia; he is truly a meritorious servant of Zhang Zhongjing. In his work on miscellaneous diseases, he exclusively selects ancient prescriptions. Where ancient prescriptions are insufficient, he adopts contemporary prescriptions, yet they must still conform to ancient methods, seamlessly connecting with the Qi flow of *Shanghan Lun* and *Jingui Yaolue*, balancing antiquity and modernity, achieving perfection. Mr. has spared no effort. Regarding drug properties, the Four Diagnostic Methods (Wang, Wen, Wen, Qie), and syndrome differentiation methods, each contains profound principles. In summary, selecting the purest elements from various books and compiling them into one volume is merely to show people the way of simplicity. The ancients said: "That which is easy is easily understood; that which is simple is easily mastered." What matter in heaven and earth should not be thus, let alone medicine? Those aspiring to this Dao should certainly read and ponder this volume carefully, so as not to sigh helplessly before the vastness. I consider this book to be the precious raft for crossing the ferry, truly not empty words. Hence, I write this preface.

Prefaced by Fan Zhiming, student and descendant of Gulejiao, on the 16th day of the ninth month, autumn, in the Gui Chou year (Republic of China Year 2).