Library

I served in the imperial censorate and secretariat, having passed through three reigns, assisting in the administration of various government affairs. Considering that among the people of the world, there are inevitably those who suffer from hunger, cold, destitution, and distress without anyone to appeal to, I pondered how to ensure their survival, nourishment, safety, and health, thereby widely promoting the benevolent virtue of the Holy Son of Heaven to cherish life, leading them into the realm of benevolence and longevity. For this purpose, I had exhausted my heart and mind. Recently, due to declining health and illness, while living in seclusion in the countryside, I requested retirement. By imperial edict, I was granted permission to return home, receiving profound and generous imperial grace. With nothing else to do, I spent my days closing the door and reviewing medical texts, seeking appropriate methods for regulation and preservation, as well as prohibitions and precautions, to extend my lifespan and attain a ripe old age. However, the chapters were vast and numerous, and the discussions were verbose and redundant. It was difficult to find works that were concise in text yet detailed in content, brief in language yet accurate in meaning. One day, Gong Sheng, a hereditary physician from Jinxi, presented me with *Gujin Yijian* (Mirror of Medicine Through the Ages), saying: "This book was compiled by my father and Tingxian. We wish to have it printed and hope to obtain your esteemed words for the preface. Upon reading it, I found that its theories originate from Qihuang (Huangdi and Qibo), revere Cangong (Chunyu Yi) and Yueyue (Bian Que), and extend down to Liu Wansu, Zhang Yuansu, Li Dongyuan, and other famous doctors of successive dynasties. All refined and detailed discussions on pulse diagnosis and miraculous prescriptions have been collected and compiled. It begins with pulse diagnosis, follows with disease symptoms, and concludes with treatment formulas. It establishes a framework and is divided into sixteen volumes. Furthermore, [my father] traveled through the two capitals and various provinces, from Xuchang to Fugou. Secret records treasured by noble families were thoroughly searched and their essence extracted. After more than twenty years, the book was finally completed. This indeed looks back to the legacy of ancient sages to inherit their orthodox transmission; and closely draws upon the precise arguments of Confucian scholars to demonstrate established methods. Regarding what I previously said about being concise in text yet detailed in content, and brief in language yet accurate in meaning, apart from this book, where else could one find such? Naming it *Yijian* (Medical Mirror) is truly not false. Gong Sheng does not keep this book to himself but shares it with the world and future generations. Thus, those engaged in medicine can obtain and revere it, allowing them to examine the past to verify the present, and observe pulses to treat diseases. Like holding a mirror to reflect objects, they can awaken the confused and ignorant throughout the world. The people of the world will all become individuals who live in peace and die a natural death. Would not the merit be significant? I have also heard the ancient saying: 'The superior doctor treats the state; the inferior doctor treats the person.' It is also said: 'When successful, one becomes a good minister; when unsuccessful, one becomes a good doctor.' Gong Sheng applies this art to benefit the world, leading everyone into the realm of benevolence and longevity. The Holy Son of Heaven's virtue of cherishing life is already extensive. What need is there to distinguish between poverty and success, or between inferior and superior? Therefore, I write this to highlight his benevolent intention. Gong Sheng's name is Tingxian, courtesy name Zicai, pseudonym Yunlin, and he is from Jinxi, Jiangxi. His father, Xiyuan, named Xin, courtesy name Ruizhi. Both father and son practiced medicine extensively and successfully in the world. Written by Liu Ziqiang of Sanzhou, Fugou."