Library

The Way of Medicine is indeed supreme. Thus, the *Rites of Zhou* established the office of Physician for Diseases (Ji Yi), responsible for examining and treating the illnesses of the myriad people across the four seasons: in spring, diseases of the head; in summer, itching and scabies; in autumn, malaria and chills; in winter, cough and rebellious Qi. These were treated separately, and salaries were determined based on the severity of the condition, indicating that the responsibility was not trivial. In later generations, officials neglected their duties, so the selection of practitioners was often imprecise. If there were individuals here who could align with the ancient Dao of medicine, would they not be as welcome as footprints in an empty valley? Such is our fellow townsman, Mr. Dai Yuanli.

Mr. Yuanli was born into a Confucian family, familiar with the teachings of Poetry and Rites, and had the ambition to benefit all living things. He walked to Wushang to study medicine under Master Zhu Yanxiu. The Master saw his exceptional intelligence and wit, far surpassing ordinary people, and taught him with dedication. From then on, Mr. Yuanli’s knowledge broadened daily, and his learning deepened. When he practiced medicine, his treatments often yielded miraculous results. Allow me to recount these details.

Mr. Yuanli’s cousin, Dai Zhongzhang, suffered from severe heat in June, with a red face, delirious speech, and red rashes on the body. Other physicians administered Da Chengqi Tang (Major Orderly Release Decoction), but the heat intensified. Mr. Yuanli palpated the pulse and said, "Both left and right pulses are floating, deficient, and weak; this is not true excess-heat." Zhang Zihe stated, "One should release the exterior rather than attack the interior." This case resembles that principle; the method should involve inducing sweating. Thus, he prescribed a formula of Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Renshen (Ginseng Root), and Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome). The decoction was cooled and given to drink, resulting in profuse sweating and recovery.

The wife of Fang from Zhuji suffered from excessive sweating after malaria. When she called her maid to change clothes and the maid did not arrive promptly, anger appeared on her face, leading to syncope resembling death. She was revived by administering Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill). Thereafter, hearing heavy footsteps or the sounds of chickens and dogs triggered syncope identical to before. Mr. Yuanli said, "The pulse is extremely deficient; upon heavy pressure, it scatters. This is what is meant by 'profuse sweating leads to loss of Yang,' which perfectly aligns with the classic meaning." He used Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Renshen (Ginseng Root) for daily tonification. Her fright gradually decreased, and she stabilized within ten days.

Zhu Zhongwen from Songjiang feared cold during midsummer, felt constant heaviness in his body, and required food and drink to be boiling hot to swallow; if slightly warm, he vomited. Other physicians advised him to eat three boiled female chickens daily with pepper, but his condition worsened urgently. Mr. Yuanli said, "The pulse is rapid, large, and not weak." Liu Shouzhen said, "Extreme fire resembles water," which applies here. Pepper stimulates fire in the Yin meridians, and chicken promotes phlegm; these only exacerbate the disease. He used Da Chengqi Tang (Major Orderly Release Decoction) to purge him. He defecated more than twenty times day and night, and the illness suddenly reduced by half. Subsequently, he was treated with Huanglian Daotan Tang (Coptis Phlegm-Guiding Decoction) mixed with Zhuli (Bamboo Sap), leading to complete recovery.

The wife of Zhu Ziming from Gusu suffered from prolonged screaming, pausing briefly after dozens of cries, then resuming. People believed she was possessed by a malevolent spirit and could not be cured. Mr. Yuanli said, "This is a Stagnation Syndrome (Yu Bing)." Phlegm obstructs the upper Jiao, and Fire stagnates in the lower Jiao, so screaming allows Qi to relax slightly. The Classic states, "When Fire is stagnant, it must be dispersed." Thus, he used a heavy emetic agent. He expectorated countless amounts of glue-like phlegm, and she returned to health.

The wife of Le Yuanchong, also from Suzhou, developed fright after difficult childbirth. Her body floated as if ascending above clouds; when she opened her eyes, houses seemed to rotate, and she could not stand steadily. Other physicians administered tonics for deficiency and treatments for fright, all without effect. Mr. Yuanli said, "Although the left pulse is hollow and choppy, her spirit and color remain unchanged. This is due to fright causing accumulated turbid blood in the Pericardium Collateral. The method should be purgation." He purged one dou of dark, lacquer-like accumulated blood, and she recovered immediately.

The wife of Lu Zhongrong, an official in the Guard of the Palace, suffered from heat, hallucinating spirits and ghosts, with convulsions of the hands and feet. Other physicians used Huanglian Qingxin Tang (Coptis Heart-Clearing Decoction) without success. Mr. Yuanli observed, "Her form is thin and complexion lusterless; this is deficiency-heat. The method should follow Li Gao’s principle of using sweet-warm herbs to eliminate great heat," which corresponds to the Classic saying, "Those who are depleted should be warmed." After taking Ginseng, she became calm.

There are many such cases. I have heard scholars and officials discuss them frequently, but cannot list them all now. Alas! If there is such a person, can we not say he aligns with the ancient Dao? The Way of Medicine originates from the *Suwen* and *Neijing*. Its scholarship was first corrupted in the Kaiyuan era and again in the Daguan era. Customs persisted, and no one sought to explore its subtle meanings, clinging rigidly to fixed prescriptions like carving a mark on a boat to find a sword. When criticized, they claimed, "Using this prescription is sufficient enough; why bother with the *Neijing*?" Qian Boyuan (Qian Zhongyang) of the Song Dynasty alone discovered secrets in the surviving classics and expanded upon them. Scholars of the Jin Dynasty, such as Zhang Yuansu, Liu Wansu, and Li Gao, further elaborated on them. Thus, the study of the *Neijing* became clearly illuminated. Liu Wansu’s scholarship was deeply mastered by Zhu Yanxiu. South of the Great River, the medical tradition based on the *Neijing* truly began with Zhu. Mr. Yuanli was his distinguished disciple. His devotion was sincere, so his understanding of medical principles was particularly refined. His teaching methods were essential, so his diagnosis of syndromes was invariably accurate. He can indeed be called virtuous. Recently, officials in the capital revered him; after taking his prescriptions, patients felt instantly relieved, as if cleansed. Some wished to recommend him as an Imperial Physician, but he declined, composing poetry to send him eastward, and requested I write a preface. Sima Qian once wrote the *Biography of Cang Gong*, recording twenty-three cases he answered to imperial inquiries, detailing treatment conditions thoroughly. I imitate this intent, briefly presenting Mr. Yuanli’s miraculous cures, attaching them to the beginning of this volume, and summarizing the seasonal diagnoses of the *Zhou Li* Physicians. Gentlemen of insight among the world will surely make their choices. (From *Song Xueshi Ji*)