一、是经注相传既久。错简颇多。如三难误列十八难。十难误列四十八难。凡误三十余条。今悉
根据古本厘正。一复越人之旧。恐其久而又差。故复撰某难发明何义目次一篇。证误目次一
篇。冠于首。
一 、 传世之书。缮写多讹。独难经历三千年来。所误不过数字。开列证误目次。盖因是书以数冠
篇。不致遗失。然其数则存。而文已不随其数。如三难之误列十八难而不觉也。沿讹踵谬。读
者难明。余就古本原文阐发。并采前人之说。附于其下。遂觉本义复明。即不业医者。
似亦可
展卷了然矣。
一、是经越人悉本内经。或字句间与内经小有异同。其义实无相悖。后人执此一二字以议其
非。亦已妄矣。至于脉位。以大小肠分发两寸。确有至理。余于三难注明李士材喻嘉言辈欲
驳其误。恐后人不服。而云高阳生之伪诀。今人不明难经。惑于伪诀一语。反以难经为不足
凭。岂其然乎。
一、是经越人取经义之深微者。设为问难。虽止八十一条。而内经之全旨已具。其发明脉
理证
治针刺。率以一语该千百言之蕴。学人若致心研讨。自能悟千百言于一语之下。欲臻其境
者。先读难经。再读内经可也。
一、是经四明张静斋本各条俱有绘图。夫难经所言。皆阐明脉理阴阳。荣卫虚实。五行交互。补
泻变通。难以绘图。今其图不过即以其文或方或圆或颠或倒。重写一过而已。学人一泥其
图。真义反晦。故去之。
一、是书余与参政中峰朱公互相商榷。裨助实多。间加一二评语。亦录于下。
一、是经注解行世者。历来一十七家。并列姓氏。其未之见者。不及备载。
一、是注原为家学卫生而设。每用浅近通俗之语。欲使子侄易明易熟。余又气血既衰之年。不
能过用心思。故字句间多有不检之处。学人谅之。
丁锦履中氏又书
1. The annotations of this classic have been transmitted for a long time, and there are many misplaced slips (cuojian, errors caused by the disorder of bamboo slips in ancient texts). For instance, Difficulty 3 was mistakenly listed as Difficulty 18, and Difficulty 10 was mistakenly listed as Difficulty 48; there are over thirty such erroneous entries in total. Now, all have been corrected according to the ancient edition to restore the original form of Yue Ren (Bian Que). Fearing that errors might recur over time, I have additionally compiled two catalogs: one titled "Explanation of the Meaning of Specific Difficulties" and another titled "Catalog of Textual Corrections," placed at the beginning of the book.
2. Transmitted books often contain numerous copying errors. However, regarding *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), which has survived for three millennia, only a few numerical errors exist. The "Catalog of Textual Corrections" is listed because this text uses numbers to designate chapters, preventing loss of sequence. Although the numbers remain, the text no longer corresponds to its original numbering. For example, Difficulty 3 was mislabeled as Difficulty 18 without detection. This perpetuation of errors makes it difficult for readers to understand. I have elucidated the original text based on the ancient edition and incorporated previous scholars' comments below the text, thereby clarifying the original meaning. Even those not practicing medicine can likely understand it upon opening the book.
3. This work by Yue Ren is fundamentally based on *Huangdi Neijing* (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon). While there may be minor differences in wording or phrasing, the underlying principles do not contradict each other. It is absurd for later scholars to criticize it based on isolated characters. Regarding pulse positions, assigning the Large Intestine and Small Intestine to the cun positions (distal parts of the radial artery) indeed possesses profound rationale. In my annotation of Difficulty 3, I noted that scholars like Li Shicai and Yu Jiayan attempted to refute this error. To prevent future generations from rejecting these views under the pretext of dismissing them as the "false precepts of Gaoyang Sheng," I address this here. Modern readers, confused by the term "false precept," wrongly deem *Nan Jing* unreliable. Is this truly the case?
4. In this text, Yue Ren selected the profound principles of *Neijing* and posed them as questions and difficulties. Although there are only eighty-one items, the complete essence of *Neijing* is contained within. It elucidates pulse pathology, syndrome differentiation and treatment, and acupuncture techniques, often summarizing the meaning of thousands of words in a single sentence. If students study diligently, they will naturally comprehend the depth of thousands of words through these concise statements. Those wishing to attain this level of understanding should first read *Nan Jing*, followed by *Neijing*.
5. The edition by Zhang Jingzhai of Siming includes illustrations for each item. However, *Nan Jing* discusses the subtleties of pulse theory, Yin-Yang, Ying-Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) deficiency and excess, the interaction of the Five Elements, and the flexibility of tonification and sedation methods, which are difficult to depict visually. The existing illustrations merely redraw the text using geometric shapes (squares, circles) or inverted orientations. If learners become rigidly attached to these diagrams, the true meaning becomes obscured; therefore, they have been removed.
6. During the compilation of this book, I consulted with Vice Commissioner Zhu Zhongfeng, whose assistance was substantial. Occasionally added comments are recorded below.
7. There have been seventeen annotated editions of this text circulated historically, and their authors' names are listed. Editions I have not seen could not be comprehensively recorded.
8. These annotations were originally intended for family learning in health preservation. Simple and popular language was used so that younger relatives could easily understand and memorize them. Given my advanced age and declining Qi and Blood, I could not exert excessive mental effort, resulting in some lack of rigor in the wording. I ask students to excuse these shortcomings.
Ding Jin, styled Lüzho ngshi, writes again.