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*The Gujin Yitong (Comprehensive Collection of Ancient and Modern Medical Standards)* regarding medical books is like rivers and seas to small streams. All categories of medical classics are fully recorded herein; with a single glance at the scroll, the brilliant array of ancient and modern texts becomes clearly visible. However, Tang dynasty editions circulated in recent times are scarce, and those aspiring to medicine generally find them difficult to obtain, which cannot but be a regret. Therefore, several colleagues have now jointly commissioned craftsmen to carve woodblocks for its preservation, to broaden its dissemination. Although their original intention was not dissimilar to seeking profit through monopoly, can the efforts of an arrow-maker and an armor-maker be discussed as equal? If this book circulates widely in the world, then chronic illnesses will be instantly cured, and severe cases will rise from death; this can indeed be considered one aid in benefiting the people, and a fortune for the masses. Thus, I privately gathered several copies and, together with two gentlemen proficient in this profession, examined them volume by volume. There were already many missing slips and superfluous characters; according to each person's observation, rough corrections were made, yet there is still fear that "wind leaves" (erroneous or extraneous content) remain. However, in the middle, some characters, or two or three characters, were worn away and difficult to understand, so they are left blank awaiting future scholars, hoping that experts will examine them.

Written on the day Renchen of the tenth month of the year Dingyou (1597), by Liye Spring Festival at Pengsheng Alley.

1. The compilation of this book is titled *Gujin Yitong*. It selects the sources of medicine from all dynasties, starting from Fuxi, flowing down to this era, with continuous transmission of writing and inheritance, having a long history. Whatever laws and prescriptions established by sages and worthies serve as standards for the world and future generations are now investigated for their deeds and listed at the beginning of the volumes, enabling later learners to trace the source.

2. Those recorded in historical biographies of famous doctors and appearing in various family collections, whose learning is based on the *Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon)* and whose methods are pure and correct, are recorded without omission. If they involve illusory and absurd content beyond reason and method, such as Fotu Cheng and Shandaokai recorded in the *Book of Jin*, or Ma Zongsu and Cheng Dezhai of the Jin Dynasty, they dare not be fully recorded. Those who are famous, such as Jiao Shi and Yu Shi, are all ancestors of medicine; even if no works are transmitted, they are recorded.

3. This book is compiled taking Huangdi's *Neijing* as the master, along with histories and collections of philosophers. Anything with strengths in certain aspects that can assist in entering the field of medicine is thoroughly explored and attached. Those that deviate from classics and contradict reason, such as Ma Zongsu's *Qianfa*, Gao Yangsheng's *Maijue (Pulse Mantra)*, Zhao's *Jingyao*, and Peng's *Leibian*, instead increase confusion in medicine and are not recorded. However, medical books throughout history are vast and broad across the world, likely impossible for one person to view completely. To gather the ultimate essence and cover the whole, one must wait for learned and elegant gentlemen.

4. The *Huangdi Neijing: Suwen (Basic Questions)* is the ancestor of medical books and truly the standard for the words and laws established by ancient sages. Subsequent virtuous ones all respected its principles and elaborated upon them; none became good physicians without abandoning the *Neijing*. Since Wang Bing (Wang Qixuan), Grand Tutor of the Tang Dynasty, annotated it, gains and losses were half-and-half. Later, Hua Shi's *Chao* presented it, yet it was still not perfect. Now, its key points are compiled into one volume, allowing practitioners to recite and ponder deeply, naturally connecting with its profundity. And regarding the similarities and differences in various clinical theories, they will not disturb its truth.

5. Arguments established by former sages that are pertinent to diagnosis and treatment and worthy of emulation are broadly inclusive, not limited to one corner. Such as Wang Andao, Zhu Yanxiu, etc., and treatises like *Bencao Yanyi (Elucidation of Materia Medica)*, *Bingzhi Bayao (Eight Essentials of Disease Treatment)*, *Qixiao Liangfang (Excellent Prescriptions)*, *Yaoyong Junchen (Ministerial and Assistant Roles in Medicine)*, etc., whatever can support medicine is comprehensively examined and attached beforehand for easy reference.

6. The Way of Medicine prioritizes pulse diagnosis; if one does not understand pulses, one cannot distinguish syndromes. Physicians of today discussing pulses mostly use the names Seven Surfaces, Eight Interiors, and Nine Channels from the *Maijue*, taking the Left Cun Heart and Small Intestine as the main reference. With disordered locations, diagnostic outcomes will inevitably be inaccurate. Now, refuting the errors of Hehu's *Maijue*, and adopting the diagnostic methods of the *Neijing*, they are combined into one volume.

7. Disease syndromes are categorized by type, first discussing disease origins, primarily based on the *Huangdi Neijing: Suwen*; secondly using pulse indications, comparing with Wang's *Maijing (Pulse Classic)* and Hua's *Shuyao*; thirdly employing treatment methods, extensively drawing on the strengths of famous masters; fourthly selecting medicinal formulas, carefully choosing those proven effective in classics and histories. Originating from specific collections, each item is recorded separately below, so that there is basis for knowing the source.

8. Disease mechanisms follow the *Neijing*, describing Chao Yuanfang's views, distinguishing the sources of exterior/interior, deficiency/excess, cold/heat, and then classifying medicinal formulas, following afterwards according to exterior/interior, deficiency/excess, cold/heat. Thus, checking formulas against symptoms is like round compasses and square rulers, naturally allowing no deviation.

9. For diseases suitable for acupuncture and moxibustion, their meridian acupoints are attached after the main syndrome. Ancients wrote about acupuncture and moxibustion at the beginning of volumes because of its swift efficacy. Modern people fear it and do not use it, making physicians rarely refined in this area. They fail to realize that miraculous feats can instantly revive the dead; selecting acupoints according to symptoms yields immediate results, which is certainly more than a minor supplement.

10. Physicians must know all untreatable conditions. If the Qi of one organ perishes due to disease, medicines cannot forcibly sustain life. For example, black color appearing in the ears and between the Mingmen suspension wall like soot indicates kidney Qi has perished, leading to death; flesh wasting away while the body remains immobile indicates death; pulses lacking Stomach Qi indicate death. These are all instances where primal Qi has perished and absolutely cannot be treated. People nowadays are unskilled in inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation, relying solely on inquiry, often failing to recognize signs of death before administering drugs. This is a major flaw in medicine. Bian Que could not save Duke Huan of Qi, and Yi Huan could not save Duke Jing of Jin; these were proofs that could not be revived. Now, signs of death are classified and compiled after pulse methods, serving as an example to avoid confusion.

11. Discussions on health preservation and Daoyin (guiding and pulling) are indeed the methods of ancients for preventing disease before it arises. Modern people only seek medicine when ill, unaware that those skilled in self-care are like those who bend the chimney and move the firewood, thereby avoiding the disaster of burning. Therefore, what is worthy of emulation from Daoist collections is selected and attached.

12. Drug properties are the most crucial task, so Bencao (Materia Medica) is prepared in detail. Here, Tan Jiezhai's *Jiyao* and King Zhou's *Jiu Huang Bencao* are also appended, forming two volumes. This may well be considered a grand overview.

13. Yunqi (Six Qi movements) represents the normal changes of Heaven and Earth's Yin and Yang creation, and common people's diseases are largely caused by it. If physicians do not understand Yunqi, it is like a blind man seeing; it is insufficient to be called enlightened. As for figures like Ma Zongsu, they are often seen as forcing interpretations. Now, these are deleted, retaining only the Yunqi from the *Neijing* as the main focus, with detailed explanations and diagrams integrated into the complete book, to facilitate verification and examination during treatment.

14. Any extraordinary treatment methods and secret effective prescriptions, as well as sayings heard from various regions that can serve as guidelines, are privately attached to the end of the volume, daring not to be treated in the same manner as the former sages.

15. The Women's section entirely compiles the essentials of *Furen Liangfang (Good Prescriptions for Women)*. Diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth are particularly important; effective prescriptions from *Chanbao* and Cheng Shi's books are selected and attached.

16. For the elderly, whose blood and Qi have declined, medication differs. Wang Yinjun's unique arguments led to the subsequent compilation of books like *Yanglao Fengqin*. These are recorded at the forefront here, undoubtedly not to be overlooked. Their daily dietary nourishment and appropriate prescriptions for illness are fully included. Thus, filial piety and fraternal duty—can one not know this?

17. Pediatric disease mechanisms fully respect Qian Yi and Chen Wuzheng. Regarding smallpox, rashes, convulsions, and malnutrition, these are again urgent conditions; discussions on disease origins by various masters and experienced miraculous prescriptions are fully collected to complete the book, ensuring learners have no regrets.

18. Regarding contraindications and appropriateness of taking medicine, methods of preparing drugs, and citations from new and old classics, many people consider them unimportant and ignore them. Little do they know that traveling far or climbing high must begin from low and near places. Therefore, they are recorded without omission.