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Plants growing between heaven and earth are all useful in their own way. If their uses are not recorded in literature, even experienced farmers and gardeners cannot fully recognize them, and those parts that are edible can be cooked or eaten are merely trampled upon by cattle, sheep, deer, and pigs. Since Shennong tasted herbs and plants, distinguishing their cold, warm, sweet, and bitter properties, and formulated medicines to save people from premature death, later generations have relied on these to prolong life. However, the materia medica books mostly record substances for treating diseases, while neglecting those that can be consumed to fill the stomach.

Respectfully considering His Highness the Prince of Zhou, who embodies benevolence and upholds righteousness, diligently engaging in good deeds. He pays attention to everything that can benefit people and aid all things. Having read the *Mencius*, he reached the passage stating, "If the five grains do not ripen, it is worse than weeds," and thus thought of the multitude of common people. Unfortunate enough to suffer from drought or flood, when the five grains fail to ripen, the foods that can alleviate hunger are likely more than just weeds. If these could be known and recorded in books, so that those forced to seek food would not be confused between bitter herbs (*Taraxacum* spp.) and sweet shepherd's purse (*Capsella bursa-pastoris*), knowing to take *Changyang* (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) and discard *Wuhui* (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata), thereby supplementing the deficiency of the five grains, would this not be a help in famine relief? Therefore, he acquired fields for old farmers and villagers, obtained over four hundred species of plants recognizable by their sprouts, and planted them in a garden. He personally inspected them, waited for them to grow and mature, then summoned painters to illustrate them. He still listed the flowers, fruits, roots, stems, branches, and leaves that were edible, compiling them into a book titled *Jiu Huang Ben Cao* (Herbal for Famine Relief), and ordered me to write a preface. I believe that when people are well-fed and warmly clothed, they rarely worry about freezing or starving; once disaster strikes, they are at a loss and can only accept their fate helplessly. Thus, governing oneself or others often leads to losing one's footing. Now, Your Highness, residing in the dignity of wealth and nobility, preserving the state, in times without immediate worry, can contemplate the potential disasters of the people, deeply understanding the ancient sages' principle of being secure yet mindful of danger. Is this not excellent? Shennong tasted herbs to cure the diseases of the people; Your Highness distinguishes plants to relieve the hunger of the people. This is the application of the same benevolent heart. Although, nowadays, medicine is widespread throughout the realm, governance is peaceful and harmonious, crops yield auspiciously, families are self-sufficient, and there is no need to discuss famine policies. Yet how could Your Highness bear to see the people relying on plants for food? The purpose of this compilation is to identify and record valuable plants, ensuring their utility is not lost, hoping it will be transmitted alongside the *Tu Jing Ben Cao* (Illustrated Materia Medica). Perhaps, like the omen of the duckweed fruit, edible plants will not be trampled by livestock. If utilized in famine years, its merit and benefit to humanity would surpass that of medicinal stones. Still fearing that the variety of products from different regions cannot be fully recorded, and to supplement its incompleteness, awaits future efforts.

In the eighth month of autumn, in the year Bingxu of the Yongle Era, Bian Tong, Official of the Left Longshi with the title Fengyi Dafu, respectfully bows and writes this preface.