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Translation:
It is said that Li Xixing, Duke of Ankang, stated: During the Wude era, when I was appointed as the Prefect of Luzhou, I instructed Zhen Quan, the Retired Scholar Attendant, to show me his newly compiled "Mingtang" (Acupoint Diagrams). At that time, due to my ignorance and lack of insight, I did not perceive any particular merit in them. At that time, Cheng Junchuo, the Prefect of Shenzhou, suddenly suffered from a neck swelling as large as several sheng [a unit of volume], with throat obstruction such that he could not swallow water or grain for three days. He reported this condition to me, and I requested Zhen Quan to treat him. Zhen Quan needled the tip of the fourth finger [middle finger] of his right hand. After approximately the time it takes to eat a meal, his breathing immediately cleared, and by the next day, his diet had returned to normal. Thereafter, many officials copied Zhen Quan's diagrams, which spread widely among the Chinese and foreign peoples. During the Zhenguan era, Zhen Quan entered the capital to serve as Shaofu Jian [Minor Director of the Palace Workshops]. By imperial edict, he revised the "Mingtang," working alongside Sima Deyi, Chengwu Lang [Attendant Gentleman], Xie Jiqing, Taiyi Ling [Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau], and Zhen Liyan, Taichang Cheng [Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices], to collate and finalize the meridian maps. Later, he presented his work to me.

Zhen Quan said: "Humans possess bodies seven chi long; internal organs are enclosed within, and skin and collaterals cover the exterior. Without sage-like wisdom, who can distinguish them clearly? I dedicated myself to medicine at eighteen years old, and now I have passed one hundred. I have studied and synthesized classical prescriptions, pushing through difficulties and reasoning carefully. When Lei Gong posed questions, I responded diligently and comprehensively. Since the time of the Sages has been long past, ignorant people rely on hearsay, often making forced interpretations based on subjective speculation. As for methods like Wang Yi's 'Wu Xian' [Black Bird Pecking] needle technique, which are used alone and are shallow and simple: although they may occasionally yield results, claiming them to be miraculous is flawed because such practices do not follow ancient classics, leading inevitably to error when applied broadly. Those who wish to practice acupuncture must align with the orthodox meridians of Xuanyuan [Yellow Emperor]; those who use herbs must rely on the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (*Divine Farmer's Materia Medica*). Other texts, such as the *Mingyi Bielu* (*Record of Famous Physicians*), contain much erroneous information."

Upon retiring, I compared the text with the *Jiayi Jing* (*Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion*). I found that Qin Chengzu's diagram contained nineteen acupoints such as Pangting and Zanghui. According to the standard of 649 acupoints, some entries had descriptions but lacked specific names. Among these, seventeen points including Jiaosun and Jingfeng were preserved in the three parts of the *Zhenjing* (*Classic of Needling*). However, his diagrams had omissions; forty-nine acupoints remained with their positions inverted vertically and swapped horizontally, contradicting the original meridian pathways. This is what is meant by "miss by a hair's breadth, lose by a thousand li." For instance, regarding the Shimen and Guanyuan acupoints: located below the Dai Mai [Girdle Vessel], separated by one cun, needling Guanyuan treats female infertility, whereas needling Shimen leads to lifelong sterility. The Shenting acupoint is located on the forehead; needling it may induce mania, while moxibustion on it can cure epilepsy. The principles involved are profound and hidden; how can they be treated lightly or with disrespect? If people truly valued their lives, they would rarely rely solely on copying prescription books and entrusting them to low-ranking clerks. Errors are copied without verification, leading to increasing inaccuracies. Those with superficial intelligence, failing to consult authentic sources, merely copy circulating texts. In this regard, deep caution is warranted. The acupoints discussed herein are strictly standardized according to Master Zhen's *Mingtang Tu* (*Diagram of Mingtang*). Students should examine them carefully. Moreover, contemporary physicians each specialize in a single discipline and fail to master diverse treatments comprehensively; thus, their cures are often incomplete. Why? Some偏重 (focus exclusively) on acupuncture, others on moxibustion formulas, some only on herbal pills, and others on incantations. Consequently, while various diseases may be cured in certain instances, reflecting on this situation, I have compiled this record of moxibustion classics during my convalescence to leave for future generations. The regulations are fully detailed therein. A physician relies on intent (*Yi*); mastering intent makes one a good physician. The way of the good physician requires first diagnosing via pulse-taking and prescribing, followed by acupuncture and moxibustion. Internal and external therapies support each other, ensuring recovery. Why? Herbal decoctions attack pathogens internally, while acupuncture and moxibustion attack externally. Without this approach, even if diseases are occasionally cured, it is merely accidental remission, not true medical healing. Furthermore, acupoints are difficult to memorize; without diagrams, knowledge is impossible. Although the canonical texts describe them, unless one is a great scholar, one cannot grasp them hastily. Therefore, I first describe the methods for locating acupoints.