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Luo Tianyi presented a letter to Master Dongyuan, stating: I humbly believe that if archery is not learned from Hou Yi, how can one achieve the feat of shooting down suns? If a carpenter does not study with Gongshu Ban (Lu Ban), it is difficult to construct buildings reaching the clouds. Medicine and pharmacy are of such great importance, deeply concerning life and death; without choosing a good teacher to follow, how can one surpass others? Now, having the fortune to encounter your Lordship, endowed with innate wisdom and quick understanding, discussing the Heavenly Way yields verification in the human body, and analyzing diseases benefits the nation. The administration of medicines is as skillful as Sun Wu and Wu Qi using troops; tracing the sources of diseases is as orderly as Yu the Great controlling the waters. Thus, when asking about illness, no syndrome is unrecognized; when administering medicine, no disease remains uncured. Possessing the divine efficacy of Hua Tuo in cleansing the stomach, and the skills of Lu Yanque and Bian Que in reviving people, yet you remain humble in dealing with things and loyal in teaching others. As for me, Luo Tianyi, a late-born junior, received my father's training in childhood, aspiring to study poetry and books. Growing up during turbulent times, I barely survived through medical arts. However, lacking outstanding talent and possessing a dull nature, fearing ridicule, I often harbored the desire to seek a teacher. Fortunately, by accessing your remaining discourses, I began to feel ashamed of my childish ignorance and wished to respectfully serve as a disciple, personally receiving your teachings. Day and night I pondered and recited, accumulating knowledge month by month, but hindered by being alone thousands of miles away, supporting a family, constrained by livelihood internally and official duties externally, I could not escape this difficulty. Therefore, I now carefully prepare modest gifts, presumptuously disturbing your dignified presence, hoping you would pity this humble man and exert yourself on my behalf. Treat me like the child of Huxiang, granting me progress, so that I may frequently see you and hear your profound thoughts. To taste the dregs of your wisdom is a gift heavier than Mount Qiu. Beyond this, I do not know how to proceed. Respectfully submitted.

In my youth, I received strict instructions from my late father, who spoke highly of Mr. Li Dongyuan's exquisite medical skills, unsurpassed in ancient and modern times. His disciple, Luo Qianfu, deeply grasped their secrets. The works authored by these two masters, such as *Pi Wei Lun* (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) and *Wei Sheng Shi Jian* (Comprehensive Mirror for Health Preservation), supplemented what predecessors lacked, categorizing and correcting errors without bias, detailing acupuncture methods and materia medica. These are indeed essential and indispensable for physicians. Some argue that their medication relies heavily on tonification rather than purgation, deeming it slow and impractical; this is a rash comment arising from a failure to deeply investigate their principles. Observing the formulas, Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) and Puerariae Radix (Gegen) are diaphoretics; Citrulli Fructus (Gua Di) and Vigna Angularis Seed (Chi Dou) are emetics; Rheum Palmatum Root (Dahuang), Natrii Sulfas (Mangxiao), Phelodendri Cortex (Huangbo - note: text says Qianniu/Pharbitidis Semen, usually paired with Da Huang/Mang Xiao for purgation), Pharbitidis Semen (Qianniu), and Crotonis Fructus (Badou) are cathartics. The three methods of attack were never unused; rather, attack and tonification were applied appropriately according to circumstances, with specific sequences. These texts have been published, but alas, destroyed during the Yuan wars. Current copies contain many errors. I once corrected them and intended to print them, but delayed. You should fulfill this wish in the future. Soon after, my father passed away, and I held his words close to my heart, never forgetting. In recent years, the woodblocks for *Pi Wei Lun*, *Wai Shang Han Nei Shang Bian Huo Lun* (Differentiation of External Injury and Internal Damage), and *Yong Zhen Zhen Zhu Nang* (Pearl Bag of Medicinal Use) have been prepared. Now, I donate my salary to have physician Qian Yuan copy Luo's *Wei Sheng Bao Jian* (Treasure Mirror for Health Preservation), 24 volumes, plus 1 volume of supplements, totaling 481 blocks and over 155,000 characters. I recruited workers to complete the printing, intending to disseminate it widely. This fulfills my late father's lifelong ambition. Not only will those dedicated to saving lives benefit greatly from studying this, but even in remote areas without doctors, sudden illnesses can be treated effectively by consulting these formulas.
Recorded respectfully by Han Yi, styled Gongda, of Wu Commandery, Chengde Lang (Knight of Diligent Virtue) and Vice Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, on the first day of the twelfth month, the 15th year of Yongle.