Library

*Medical Jian Neng* consists of four volumes, authored by Tang Rongchuan from Pengxian, Sichuan. I obtained this book from a chest in Jiangxi (Jiangyou), and more than ten years have passed in a flash. Its language is concise yet its principles are comprehensive, making it highly beneficial for saving lives.

Generally, Rongchuan originally expounded medical theories for novice students and those unfamiliar with medicine; therefore, he did not pursue profound theoretical depth, but ensured that every recorded prescription was clinically verified. Compared to works that strive for obscurity and difficulty without offering practical utility, this book cannot be mentioned in the same breath.

I recall that when my father served as an official in Yuzhang (modern-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), whenever someone in his office complained of illness or suffering, he would select a prescription from this book for them. For newly onset conditions, cessation occurred after drinking just one cup; for chronic conditions, three doses were sufficient. Consequently, everyone around him believed my father possessed medical knowledge, unaware that this ability actually stemmed from the power of this book. It is truly precious.

Rongchuan’s scholarship spanned ancient and modern times, and his insight surpassed that of ordinary peers. His *Five Types of Integrated Chinese and Western Medical Books* (*Zhongxi Huitong Yishu Wuzhong*) neither sought distant sources while neglecting near ones, nor pursued novelty at the expense of orthodox methods. Having been published early, it has long been revered by scholars as the standard (*guinie*). Regrettably, this specific book was missing. Thus, I proofread it, appended simple and effective empirical prescriptions to the margins for reference, and handed it over to the printers.

Alas! The ancients said, "One who is a child must know medicine." I add that one who is a parent must also know medicine. However, medical texts are numerous and chaotic, making selection difficult; the words of the sages are distant, and their true meaning is hard to grasp. Popularly circulated books such as *Yanfang Xinbian* (New Compilation of Verified Prescriptions), *Yipan Zhu* (A String of Pearls), and *Zhenzhunang* (Pearl Pouch) lack clear origins, presenting both merits and flaws. It is regrettable that their theoretical basis is insufficient and their prescriptions often ineffective. Therefore, with the publication of this book, I hope physicians will read and study it daily. May all parents and children abandon inferior texts for this one, keeping a copy on hand to broaden medical understanding and assist the generative forces of Heaven and Earth. The benefits are indeed significant, and its merit is no less than that of the author himself.

Preface by Qin Zhi Ji (Bwei Shi) from Shanghai, August of the Jiazi year.

1. Other books label disease names (*zhengming*). This book was designed for those unfamiliar with medicine; labeling disease names would only cause confusion and dizziness. Therefore, symptoms causing specific pain are categorized into corresponding sections, classified by body part, making it most convenient for consultation.

2. Although this book is brief, whenever a condition is encountered, it traces the root cause, examines Yin and Yang, and differentiates Zang-Fu organs. It is highly effective. Even though it treats diseases directly upon observation, it ranks higher than contemporary medical texts.

3. For women and children, except for pregnancy/childbirth and smallpox/measles, the treatment methods are identical to those for men, and there are specialized books for these groups. If readers can grasp the intent of this book and cross-reference other texts, they can discern strengths and weaknesses and apply treatments endlessly. Thus, this book does not elaborate further on these topics.

4. This book originally lacked mnemonic verses (*gekuo*), which made memorization difficult. Now, each section has been expanded into quatrains to facilitate recitation.

5. Methods for treating sores, injuries, falls, and critical emergencies are essential tasks for preparing for crises and supporting the perilous. These are attached to the end of the volume. As these methods are based on experience, they should be memorized thoroughly, and medicinal materials should be prepared in advance to aid the world.