Library

I once held the view that Liu Chun of Wuling, in his compilation *Yuji Wei Yi* (Subtle Meanings of the Jade Machine), elucidated these principles. I further collected famous treatises to serve as resources for beginners, had them printed, and named the work *Yijing Guoxiao* (A Small Primer on Medical Classics) to disseminate it. The book begins with Bencao (Pharmacology/ Materia Medica), followed by Maijue (Pulse Diagnosis Rhymes), then Jingluo (Meridians and Collaterals), then Bingji (Pathogenesis), then Zhifa (Treatment Methods), and finally Yunqi (Five Movements and Six Qi). It comprises six volumes in total. Its content is fundamentally based on *Suwen* (Basic Questions), *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), as well as the works of Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and later masters such as Liu Shouzhen, Zhang Jiegui, Li Mingzhi, and Zhu Zhongxiu. I extracted their essential points and compiled them into rhythmic verses, categorized and refined for the convenience of beginners. The fundamentals and details are clearly organized, precise, concise, and comprehensive; it serves as a compass for medicine and a text to establish the root. Anyone who is good at learning must focus on the root. How much more so for physicians who hold the fate of life and death? If medical students can thoroughly study this compilation and integrate it into their minds, everything they practice will be on the right path, and all methods used will be correct. By extending knowledge through analogy, achieving perfect medical skills within a few years would be no difficulty. This book could not have been written without Mr. Liu Chun, nor could it have been transmitted without Mr. Chen. It is a blessing for those studying medicine and for the people. Liu Chun, courtesy name Zongnong, was from Wuling. His father, Liu Shuyuan, was a senior disciple of Zhu Zhongxiu, and the lineage of transmission has its clear origins.

Preface by Yang Shiqi of Luling, Guanglu Daifu (Grand Master of Ceremonies), Zhuguo (State Pillar), Shaoshi (Junior Preceptor to the Emperor), Minister of War, Grand Secretary of Huagai Hall, Director-General of National History, and Associate Scholar of the Imperial Study, on the day Jiazi of the ninth month of the Jiwei year of the Zhengtong era (1439).

The "medical intent" refers to formulating a treatment strategy upon encountering a disease. The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) comprehensively covers Yunqi (Five Movements and Six Qi) and Bingyuan (Etiology), observing changes in heaven and earth, investigating the mechanisms of disease, and exhausting the principles of regulation and treatment. This is the benevolence of the sages in loving humanity, the highest Dao of saving the weak, correcting deviations, and benefiting all things. Thus, the Way of Medicine was established. Qin Yueren (Bian Que) expounded its profound meanings and wrote the *Nanjing*. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing discussed Shanghan (Cold Damage), prescribing medicines and establishing formulas. In the Jin Dynasty, Wang Shuhe collected and arranged materials and wrote the *Maiejing* (Pulse Classic) to instruct future generations. Their intentions were indeed profound! Since the classics are far removed from the sages, with scattered texts and damaged bamboo slips, later learners became confused by focusing solely on formulas while neglecting the underlying intent. Fortunately, Wang Bing, Taibu Ling (Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments) of the Tang Dynasty, reorganized and clarified these meanings, revealing the mysteries of the great laws, explaining the profundities of divine movement, and analyzing principles within ultimate truth. This enabled learners to carefully examine pulses, use medicines to cure diseases, and preserve the fundamental integrity of medicine without diminishment. His methods involved overcoming pathological excess and assisting physiological transformation to support life. The merit of rescuing the critical and stabilizing chaos is rooted in the classic theories: knowing Qi and recognizing disease leads to proper governance. Alas! Learning must be based on the classics, understanding disease requires clarity in theory, and treatment must be investigated through formulas. Only by being flexible and unobstructed can one fully realize the intent behind establishing medicine. In the past, Master Zhu Danxi became renowned for medicine in Jiangdong. My father personally studied under him and received his heart-to-heart transmission. I, Liu Chun, privately considered the master's principles, compiling what was worthy of emulation in medicine, based on the subtleties of the classics. I reorganized the sequence of topics, included rhyming verses and examples, and added diagrams to facilitate memorization and study. Where the Pulse Rhymes were incomplete, I also supplemented and corrected them, naming the work *Yijing Guoxiao*. The aim is to allow beginners to trace the source from the branches and avoid confusion with divergent paths. Those who aspire to the ancient Dao of sages loving humanity and benefiting all things should not mock my limited perspective (like looking at the sky through a tube or measuring the sea with a ladle). If there are shortcomings, I respectfully ask for your endorsement and correction. Then it will be a blessing not only for the Way of Medicine but also for the common people.

Preface by Liu Chun of Wuling, on the first day of the eleventh lunar month in the winter of the 21st year of the Hongwu era (1388).