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Tao Hongjing, courtesy name Tongming, pseudonym Yiju (Hermit), also known as Zhenbai Xiansheng (Mr. Zhenbai), was from Danyang. His mother, Lady Hao, dreamed of two celestial beings holding incense burners coming to her, after which she became pregnant and gave birth to Jing. From childhood, he was quick-witted and intelligent, widely learned and proficient in the Classics. He had aspirations for health preservation (Yangsheng), collected medical prescriptions, and dedicated himself to saving and helping people. Emperor Gao of Qi promoted him to Shidu (Reading Tutor). He died at the age of eighty-five. An imperial edict posthumously awarded him the title of Zhongsan Dafu (Grand Master of Dispersed Officials) and the posthumous name Zhenbai Xiansheng. He authored *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), three volumes. Source: *Book of Liang*.

Chen Cangqi’s annotations on Bencao (Materia Medica) were extremely skillful, contributing greatly to medicine. His discussions on drug properties are still revered today.

Song Xia was from an unknown commandery. He was bright and perceptive, possessed academic attainments, and held high regard for Jingfang (Classic Prescriptions) and Bencao (Materia Medica). He gained fame through his medical skills.

Yao Sengyuan, courtesy name Weifa, was from Wuxing Wu Kang. Because of his father’s illness, he paid close attention to medicine and pharmacology. Emperor Wu of Liang summoned him to discuss medical arts; his statements often aligned with the Emperor’s views. He served as Taiyi Zheng (Director of Imperial Physicians) in the Liang dynasty and concurrently as Zhongshu Sheren (Secretarial Official). When Emperor Yuan of Liang suffered from heart and abdominal disease, various physicians failed to produce effective results. Yao Sengyuan diagnosed him, stating, “The pulse is洪实 (Hongshi - surging and solid); it is suitable to use a Dahuang (Rhubarb Root) preparation.” The Emperor followed his advice, and indeed, accumulated food stagnation was evacuated, leading to recovery. He was granted one hundred thousand strings of cash. He authored *Jiyan Fang* (Collected Verified Prescriptions), twelve volumes, and *Xingji* (Travel Records), three volumes, both of which circulated in the world.

A native of Fugou, Xuzhou [Name omitted in source text], because of his mother’s illness, specialized in collecting medical prescriptions with his brother Liyan, thereby deeply investigating their subtleties. He served in the Secretariat during the Sui dynasty and was promoted to Chaosan Dafu (Attendant Gentleman of Dispersed Merit). He compiled diagrams such as *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic), *Zhen Fang* (Acupuncture Prescriptions), and *Mingtang* (Illustrated Manual of Acupoints), which circulated in the world.

[Name omitted in source text], younger brother of Quan, because of his mother’s illness, devoted himself exclusively to medical arts, thereby mastering their intricacies. During the Wude era of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, he was repeatedly promoted to Taichang Cheng (Vice Director of Court of Imperial Sacrifices). Du An, Censor-in-Chief, suffered from wind-toxin causing swelling. Emperor Taizong ordered him to diagnose. Afterward, he reported, “He will die twenty-one days hence at noon.” The result proved exactly as he said. He authored *Bencao Yinyi* (Phonetic and Semantic Explanations of Materia Medica), seven volumes, and *Gujin Luyan Fang* (Verified Prescriptions of Ancient and Modern Times), fifty volumes, which circulated in the world.

[Name omitted in source text, referred to as Junxi later] was from an unknown commandery and served as a Grand Physician during the Daye era. Emperor Yang of Sui was particularly infatuated with women in his later years. A Daoist alchemist presented a Great Elixir, which the Emperor consumed, resulting in excessive yang heat and dryness. He drank a hundred cups of water daily, yet thirst remained unquenched. Junxi memorialized that ice be placed before the Emperor, gazing at it morning and evening, whereupon the thirst ceased.