Library

When I first bowed my head to study medicine, I devoted myself daily to the *Suwen* (Plain Questions), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), *Bingyuan* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis of Various Diseases), *Bingji* (Pathogenesis Principles), and *Jiayi* (The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). I recited with my head down and pondered with my head up, hoping to internally integrate the secret doctrines of the ancient sages, though I felt I had not yet fully attained this. As for collections such as the *Ju Fang* (Formulas of the Bureau of People's Welfare), *Xiuzhen* (Pocket Formulas), and *Hui Ji* (Beneficent Aid Formulas), I occasionally used them for reference but dared not adhere rigidly to them. When treating patients, I always humbly investigated the cause of the disease before prescribing, never mechanically applying formulas to fit diseases. Consequently, those who rigidly adhered to fixed formulas often reacted with shock and criticism upon seeing my methods, saying, "The formula books you mention are simple, quick, and highly beneficial for later learners. Although the *Suwen* and *Nanjing* are undoubtedly exquisite, they are diffuse, complex, and difficult to thoroughly master. Mr. Hu, do you prefer difficulty over ease? Your nature differs from others. Moreover, your diagnosis and prescription often differ significantly from standard formula books. There are cases where the disease is the same but the formula differs; there are cases where the same method is used from start to finish without change; there are cases where the formula is altered three or five times without rigidity, yet efficacy is still achieved. What Way do you follow? Are the formula books unreliable, and do you have other secret transmissions? Why do you differ so much from other physicians?"

I replied, "Alas! How difficult it is to discuss medicine. Human life and death hang in the balance of a breath. How dare I act subjectively and arbitrarily? The ancients said that using herbs is like using troops. However, marching in step, maintaining strict discipline, sitting, standing, advancing, retreating, stabbing, and attacking according to set rules without chaos—this is 'Fa' (Method/Law). How can this be discarded? Yet, knowing oneself and the enemy, setting ambushes, employing stratagems, and adapting to unpredictable changes—the subtlety of application lies in the mind. The roles of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy in herbal combinations, the flavors of sweet, bitter, cold, and cool, and the forms of pills, powders, decoctions, and teas recorded in texts constitute 'Fa'. Observing the cold, heat, deficiency, and excess of diseases, and the location of pathogens in the Zang-Fu organs and exterior/interior levels—determining the Sovereign-Minister-Assistant-Envoy roles, flavor properties, tonification/sedation, and pill/powder/decoction forms—does not discard formulas but also does not rigidly adhere to them. Therefore, one who uses troops according to a map without understanding adaptation will fight enemies with mere soldiers; one who treats diseases by rigidly adhering to formulas without investigating causes has never been able to save lives. Nevertheless, not adhering rigidly while still abiding by 'Fa' is not easily achieved. Unless one has thoroughly integrated the *Suwen*, *Nanjing*, *Bencao* (Materia Medica), and the works of Zhang Zhongjing, Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu), Shouzhen (Liu Wansu), Dongyuan (Li Gao), and Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng) throughout one's life, one cannot discuss these secrets. How easy is medicine to talk about! You merely view formula books as a shortcut, likely because you have not sought knowledge from antiquity. In ancient times, there were no fixed formulas. The *Biography of Bian Que* records Chang Sang Jun transmitting secret prescriptions to Bian Que, but does not specify which exact formula. Qin Huan (Bian Que) and Yi He in the Spring and Autumn period, and Chunyu Yi in the Han dynasty, were famous for their medical skills, yet left no fixed formulas behind. It was not until Zhang Zhongjing that formulas began to be transmitted. Thus, we know that before the Eastern Han Dynasty, physicians relied on intuitive insight and mental methods, observing diseases and prescribing accordingly, without following fixed formulas. Did they privately hoard formulas unwilling to teach others? No, they truly feared that later generations would become rigid and unchanging, inevitably leading to harm. However, establishing laws and formulating prescriptions merely involves carefully weighing the pathogenesis, examining the deficiency and excess of meridians, assessing the suitability or contradiction of drug properties, clarifying the directional movement of Qi and flavors, combining complexion and pulse, extending natural harmony, regulating Yin and Yang, and participating in the workings of creation, all unified by a single principle. When principles are integrated, true understanding arises; when true understanding arises, opportunities flow naturally, allowing for flexible adaptation without stagnation. The formula emerges from my heart; the disease can be cured, and merit achieved. If merit is achieved, why not name the formula? What ability do I possess? I merely uphold the principles of formulas without rigid adherence. Do you consider my words pedantic?"