Library

The state established civil and military medical officials originally to nurture the people; none obtained their position without first studying ancient medicine. Although the paths to learning ancient medicine differ, they all converge on the Confucian way: one must study the *Five Classics* (Wujing) and the *Three Histories* (Sanshi), as well as the works of the Hundred Schools of Thought, to be considered a scholar.

For physicians, the classics are the *Suwen* (Plain Questions) and *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot); the historical texts correspond to various *Bencao* (Materia Medica) works; the philosophical schools correspond to the *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), *Jiayijing* (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), *Zhongzangjing* (Inner Canon of the Middle Organ), and *Taisu*; the miscellaneous schools correspond to *Guiyifang* (Ghost's遗 Prescription), *Longshu Pusa Yaolun* (Bodhisattva Longshu's Drug Treatise), *Jinzhuci Yao* (Golden Arrow Needling Essentials), *Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing* (Bronze Figure Acupuncture and Moxibustion Illustrations), *Mingtang*, *Youyou Xinshu* (New Book for Infants), and *Chanke Baoqing Ji*.

A Confucian who does not read the Five Classics cannot understand morality, nature, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and music. A physician who does not read the *Lingshu* and *Suwen* cannot comprehend the transformations of Yin and Yang and the operations of virtue and governance. A Confucian who does not read history cannot discern the worthiness or unworthiness of talents, nor the rise and fall of states. A physician who does not read Materia Medica cannot know the names, virtues, flavors of drugs, and methods for nourishing life and prolonging years. A Confucian who does not read the philosophers cannot understand political advocacy, educational protection, and the purity or flaws of scholarship. A physician who does not read the *Nanjing* and *Taisu* cannot grasp the divine, sacred, skillful, and adept techniques, nor the profound mysteries. A Confucian who does not read the miscellaneous writings cannot understand laws, calendars, institutions, and omens of fortune and misfortune. A physician who does not read miscellaneous disciplines cannot understand pulse patterns, acupoints, bone voids, and strange diseases and symptoms.

Even so, this is not yet considered erudite. Moreover, beyond the classics and histories, there are literary collections, such as those by Ban Gu and Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan of the Tang Dynasty, and the abundant cultural works of our Great Song Dynasty, which are too numerous to list.

Regarding medical literature, the Han Dynasty had Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo; the Tang Dynasty had Sun Simiao and Wang Bing, with works numbering in the thousands of volumes. As for our current dynasty, there are the *Taiping Shenghui Fang* (Imperial Grace Formulas of the Taiping Era), *Xianju Jixiao* (Collected Efficacies from Leisure), *Shenqiao Wanquan Fang* (Divine Skill Complete Formulas), *Beijian* (likely referring to comprehensive records or specific text), *Chongwen Mingyi Bie Lu* (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians in the Chongwen Collection), and *Sanyin Fang* (Formulas of the Three Causes).

Biography of Bian Que: Duke Jian of Zhao fell ill for five days and lost consciousness. The doctors were terrified and summoned Bian Que. Bian Que examined him and said, "The blood vessels are stagnant; what is there to fear?"

In the past, Duke Mu of Qin also lay unconscious for seven days. Upon waking, he told Gongsun Zhi (Ziyu): "I dreamed I went to the court of the Emperor (Heavenly Lord). It was very joyful. The Emperor told me that Jin would face turmoil and remain unstable for five generations. Afterwards, it would become a hegemon, but I would die before my time. The son of the hegemon would defeat the Qin army at Xiao and return home to indulge in lust." Later events confirmed this: the chaos under Duke Xian, the hegemony of Duke Wen, and Duke Xiang's defeat of the Qin army at the Battle of Xiao, followed by his licentious behavior. Now, the illness of our lord is identical to that of Duke Mu. Within three days, the illness will subside, and he will speak. Two and a half days later, Duke Jian woke up. (From *Records of the Grand Historian*)

Chen Zhaoyu was from Lingnan and skilled in medicine. He followed Liu Chang in submitting to the central government and later served as an Academic Medical Officer. Most of the patients he treated recovered, and the world regarded him as a divine physician. However, he never studied books. When questioned about his studies, he could not answer. He once told his close associates: "When I first arrived in the capital, I carried a medicine bag and stayed near the military camps. I treated hundreds of people daily. I silently memorized the manifestations of wind, consumption, cold, and qi disorders. Then, based on the patient's age and constitution (deficiency or excess), I applied ancient formulas using decoctions. Rarely did anyone fail to recover. In truth, I never studied pulse diagnosis manuals." This is akin to Zhuangzi's concept of "suspended release" (liberation from constraints), rather than Dong Yu's saying that "reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning." Is this not what is meant? (From *Encyclopedia of the Imperial Dynasty*)