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[Author's Introduction] Wang Weichuan (born 1898), from Dantu, Jiangsu. After laying a solid foundation in classical studies in his childhood, he studied medicine under a master. He devoted his life to clinical practice in various specialties, particularly excelling in internal medicine and gynecology, with profound theoretical attainments. He authored *Selected Clinical Experiences of Wang Weichuan*, *Wang Weichuan's Gynecological Treatment Experience*, etc.

I am from Dantu, Jiangsu, born in 1898. Before I was three years old, my father passed away, and I was raised by my mother, Zhou Shi. My grandfather, Lu Zhigong, was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examination) in the late Qing Dynasty. By then over sixty years old, he still ran a school to teach students. He was proficient in evidential research (kaoju) and valued Neo-Confucianism (Lixue), strongly agreeing with the scholarly pursuit of Hunan scholars: "To use the exegesis of Dai, Duan, Qian, and Wang to produce essays like those of Ban, Zhang, Zuo, and Guo." Unfortunately, due to his weak constitution and asthma, he failed to realize his ambitions. He also practiced medicine concurrently and gained considerable fame in the hometown area. Among his disciples, two stood out: Yuan Guisheng from Zhenjiang and He Yexiang from Dantu. The former emphasized clinical practice, while the latter specialized in theory; both achieved distinct success.

My grandfather regarded me as his beloved grandson. Although he loved me deeply, he disciplined me strictly. When I was six, he first taught me the *Classic of Poetry* (*Shijing*), imparting knowledge orally and mentally, explaining it in simple terms, and demanding recitation. Hearing me recite with clear voice and resonant tone, he would happily compose poetry. I remember two lines: "Unable to bear Zi Xia's sorrow after understanding, yet pleased that my dear grandson begins his reading." Thus, the grandfather and grandson shared meals at the same table and sleep in the same bed, receiving face-to-face instruction with extra effort. At nine, he taught me the *Spring and Autumn Annals* and the *Zuo Zhuan*. Although I could understand the essence of Zuo's writing, I struggled to comprehend the political situation of the Spring and Autumn period. I asked my grandfather, who replied, "Read twice, explain twice, and gradually it will become clear." Just as I was lost in deep thought and extreme distress, my cousin returned from Shanghai with a copy of *Romance of the States*. After reading it once, I was overcome with joy. Although this was considered unofficial history, within one hundred chapters, the situations of the various states during the Spring and Autumn period became perfectly clear. I read and laughed to myself, unable to put it down. My grandfather found this strange and asked me why. I explained, and he nodded in agreement. From this, I realized: when reading ancient books, having supplementary popular reading materials yields greater results. My grandfather once asked me, "What is the meaning of using one or two lines from the *Classic of Poetry* at the end of each chapter in the *Zuo Zhuan*?" I answered, "This is the ancients' method of induction and corroboration." He was very pleased, patted my head, and said, "Our family line continues with capable successors." Consequently, his teaching became more diligent. Within just over ten years, I completed the study of the *Four Books* and the *Five Classics*, graduating successfully. He also taught me essay writing, starting with the eight-legged essay, and later, after the abolition of the imperial examinations, instructed me in the style of Han Yu. Regrettably, his lifespan was short; when I was seventeen, he suddenly died of apoplexy (stroke).

After my grandfather's death, family life grew increasingly difficult. My mother earned a living through needlework. Out of kindness, Mr. Yuan Guisheng and Mr. He Yexiang actively urged me to follow them in studying medicine and offered to cover my expenses. Thus, in 1916, at the age of eighteen, I formally entered the schools of Teachers Yuan and He to begin my medical studies. Every morning, I accompanied Teacher Yuan for outpatient internship; every afternoon, I attended lectures on medical classics with Teacher He.

Teacher Yuan's outpatient clinic was extremely busy, wearing down the door thresholds. He was widely read and possessed profound academic depth and rich experience. He based his prescription formulation on observing complexion and palpating the pulse, often achieving miraculous effects with compound formulas. He valued precious experiences from predecessors but, when using ancient formulas, he often adopted their intent and adapted them according to circumstances, never rigidly sticking to established rules. Simultaneously, he paid close attention to accumulating his own experience; even when busy, he meticulously recorded cases to prepare for later compilation of clinical records. He excelled in regulating menstruation in women and especially in treating miscellaneous diseases, such as muscle atrophy and lower limb paralysis, handling many unusual conditions with ease. I recall a six-year-old boy brought by his mother, whose skin was ice-cold, pulse thread-like, and rectal temperature reaching 40°C. Teacher Yuan prescribed cooked Aconite Root (Fuzi) 15g first, followed by raw Gypsum (Shigao) 30g. I felt puzzled and asked whether this condition was cold or hot. Teacher Yuan replied, "I intend to use Gypsum to clear the interior heat and Aconite to strengthen heart failure; without these, there is no hope of rescue." Indeed, the patient recovered after two doses. Looking back, my three years under Teacher Yuan were truly beneficial. My subsequent progress in practice was also related to adhering to Teacher Yuan's family methods while appropriately adapting them.

Teacher He conducted outpatient clinics in the morning and held classes for six junior students, including me, in the afternoon. He used the combined commentary of Zhang Jingyue and Ma Shi on the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) of the *Huangdi Neijing* as his textbook, explaining most items clause by clause. Regarding the theories of Six Qi transformation and victory/defeat, although he elaborated extensively linking the views of Wang Bing and Wu Kun, the commentaries of Zhang and Ma were essentially citing classics to explain classics, lacking expanded scope. Some classmates, well-versed in the *Neijing*, were dissatisfied with Teacher He's归纳 analysis of the principles of luck and bio-transformation, requesting more integration with other works related to the *Neijing*. However, being elderly and frail, Teacher He was unwilling to replace the familiar Zhang-Ma commentary. Thus, out of helplessness and to satisfy my thirst for knowledge, I had an idea: visit bookstores.

"Jingkou Shanhuatang" in Yuxiang Lane, Zhenjiang, was an old bookstore with a two-century history, famous alongside Nanjing's "Li Guangming." One day, I took leave and went specifically to Shanhuatang. On the counter, I saw many printed editions such as *Huangdi Neijing Suwen Suowen*, *Neijing Suwen Jiaoyi*, and *Neijing Boyi*. These had large characters and sparse lines, making them easy to read, and their content far exceeded the Zhang-Ma commentary. Particularly, the book *Suwen Jingzhu Jiejie* annotated by Yao Zhi'an of the Qing Dynasty added careful notes before each volume, summarizing and elucidating the essence of the classic, and provided concise prompts before each section, which was very enlightening. I thought this was an introductory popular reader for the *Neijing* and must be bought. But then I realized I was penniless. So I stood there reading until the city lights came on, reluctantly handing the book back to the clerk, saying we would discuss it another day. The clerk agreed readily, though I felt ashamed. A few days later, I boldly returned with an ink box. The clerk was initially polite, thinking I had come to buy the books, and brought up four volumes of the *Neijing*. I flipped through them quickly and then began copying them rapidly. When it was time for the lights again, the clerk, seeing me埋头 copying, grew impatient and asked, "Do you want the books? We are closing." I replied, "The school is far, worrying about crossing the market; poor home, dreaming of buying books." The clerk was surprised and asked what I did. I told him the truth, and he turned joyful. The clerk's friend's father suffered from severe rheumatic heart disease and couldn't register with Teacher Yuan. They arranged for me to consult on the next day. I resolved the patient's pain, and thereafter, the clerk treated me exceptionally well, allowing me into the rare book room to browse and permitting me to borrow books. Borrow one book, return it in ten days, then exchange. Thus, during my three years with Teacher He, besides listening to lectures on the *Neijing*, *Nanjing*, *Jinkui Yaolue*, *Shanghan Lun*, and *Wenbing Tiaobian*, with the help of the Shanhuatang clerk, I read many uncommon books, greatly enriching my knowledge.

In 1919, at twenty years old, I left the schools of Teachers Yuan and He, borrowed "Renwen Shuwu" from Teacher He, and opened my own clinic. At the beginning, due to my youth, the clinic was deserted. My mother, worried, often visited. Seeing me reading and practicing calligraphy comforted her; seeing the empty clinic and uncertain future worried her. I comforted her with two old poems: "When mountains and rivers seem exhausted, doubting there is no road; where willows are dark and flowers bright, another village appears." She said, "I hope so," and further comforted me, "Today a batch of goods arrived from Suzhou embroidery shops, enough for several years. Do not worry about household affairs; focus on your studies, and I will be at ease."

During this period, I frequently visited "Shanhuatang" to browse, borrow, and copy books, considering it the highest joy. Lacking money for paper to copy, once I dismantled a woodblock-printed edition of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* to use as paper. But seeing Jin Shengtan's annotations, I regretted it. As I hesitated, pen in hand, Teacher He urgently came to find me. He said, "I went to Suzhou to treat my mother-in-law's illness. On the way back, I caught wind-cold on the boat; my asthma flared up frequently, preventing me from lying flat, so I need to recuperate. Starting tomorrow, you will substitute me in the outpatient clinic. In the afternoon, four new students need you to lecture on the *Neijing*, still using the Zhang-Ma commentary. There are books at home for you to reference. Previously, as a student, you could not borrow books; now, as a doctor, you may." Since then, I substituted for Teacher He in clinical and teaching duties for three months, learning much in practice that could not be learned from books.

The key to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinical diagnosis lies in observation, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. During observation, guided by the *Neijing*'s principles—"Those who possess Spirit prosper, those who lose Spirit perish," "When Yin is balanced and Yang is secret, Spirit is governed," "When Yin and Yang separate, Essence and Spirit perish"—I focused on observing patients' complexion, Spirit, and form, gradually exploring patterns. For instance, seeing facial hyperpigmentation and black gums, based on the *Neijing*'s essence that "Kidney governs bones and corresponds to black," I determined it fell within the scope of Kidney disease. If further symptoms like weight loss, aversion to cold, dizziness, and slow/thin pulse were present, I could further diagnose it as Black Jaundice or Female Labor Jaundice as described in the *Jinkui*, with the pathogenesis being a significant decline of Mingmen Fire, categorized into Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency and Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency types. If a patient's skin and sclera turned yellow, one should suspect Jaundice, but differentiate it from hemolytic jaundice. Regarding Phlegm-Fluid retention: if the upper and lower eyelids of the left eye appeared gray-black like soot, it indicated Cold Phlegm; dark eye bags indicated Hot Phlegm; and flaccidity/numbness in limbs with stiff movement indicated Wind Phlegm. Many such cases were seen in Teacher He's clinic, some responding to his prescriptions, others not. Because I had explored patterns in observation and diagnosed accurately, my prescriptions were effective. Sister He Xiaoxiang, responsible for registration, secretly told Teacher He, "He makes bizarre arguments and speaks wildly." After clarifying the facts, Teacher He replied, "This is the principle of blue coming from indigo." Encouraged by this remark from my teacher's wife, I further refined my observational skills. Over sixty years, this aided my judgment and resolution of difficult cases, forming many precedents. For example, a female worker at Chuanmian No. 1 Factory suffered from retinal vascular sclerosis and hemorrhage, with vision reduced to finger counting in the left eye and 0.1 in the right. After ineffective treatment, she consulted me. Observing her staggering gait, I asked, "Do your joints hurt?" She answered, "Severely." Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 140 mm/h. I concluded her root disease was Rheumatism, and blindness was merely a branch manifestation. Since treating the branch failed, one must treat the root. Resolutely abandoning ophthalmic formulas, I primarily prescribed Duhuo Jisheng Tang plus Centipede (Wugong), Zaocys (Wushaoshe), Agrimony (Xianhecao), and Musk (Shexiang) to dispel wind, dampen humidity, invigorate blood, unblock collaterals, and resolve stasis. The patient's vision recovered in two weeks, and she remained free of such symptoms for seven years. Another case: a Mr. Tang with chronic stomach pain unresponsive to treatments in Wuhan, Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangdong. Upon consulting me, he held his stomach with both hands and walked with a limp, complaining of years of unhealed stomach pain. His ESR was extremely high. Investigating the signs to find the cause, I also diagnosed the root as Rheumatism and cured him with anti-rheumatic herbs.

Palpating pulses to identify diseases originates from the *Neijing*. In the Western Jin Dynasty, Imperial Physician Wang Shuhe wrote the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic), analyzing twenty-four pulse types. Transmitted to Arabia, Avicenna increased this to forty-eight. In my early clinical practice, I could only easily recognize floating, deep, slow, rapid, fine, and wiry pulses; others were confusing, evoking Wang Shuhe's feeling of "clear in mind, difficult to distinguish under the fingers." Later, with more clinical experience and referring to Cheng Yanxuan's discussions on pulses, I gradually mastered the main meanings of the eight pulses and many combined pulses, which have specific connections with disorders of the five zang and six fu organs. For example, the floating pulse has six combined types: floating-slow, floating-tight, floating-empty, floating-hollow, floating-rapid, and flooding-floating. Therefore, in clinical diagnosis, while focusing on the eight main pulses, I placed greater emphasis on combined pulses, which greatly assisted my syndrome differentiation and treatment.

In summary, during the three months I substituted for Teacher He, borrowing his consultation cases opened up broad prospects for me. My personal practice gradually improved. Additionally, I offered two conveniences to patients: 1) For cases I could not cure, I invited Teacher Yuan for consultation; 2) For ordinary calls, I walked instead of riding a sedan chair. People respond to emotion, so my reputation rose rapidly, bringing bustling prosperity.

However, as business improved, difficulties increased daily. Many疑难 diseases, such as muscle atrophy, lower limb paralysis, liver cirrhosis, epilepsy, and gangrene, came in waves. I devised a method: prescribe two doses per visit for such diseases, changing the formula regularly. This allowed me leeway to seek advice from Teachers Yuan and He and consult historical case collections of famous doctors for inspiration. In clinical practice, I appreciated Wang Qingren's Tongqiao Huoxue Tang. Teachers Yuan and He encouraged me, "Relaxing sinews, activating collaterals, invigorating blood, resolving stasis—these are clear ancient teachings known to all. Your approach with Wang Qingren's formula is viable; continue. It is best to use insect drugs for more obvious effects." Teacher He provided basis for using insect drugs, stating, "*Zhouhou Beiji Fang* and *Qianjin Fang* extensively use insect drugs. Moreover, Biejia Jian Wan in *Jinkui* and Huazheng Huisheng Dan in *Wenbing Tiaobian* are mainly composed of insect drugs." I牢记 these teachings and applied them clinically, achieving unexpected effects. Since Musk is expensive, I later gradually replaced it with insect drugs, maintaining satisfactory efficacy.

During my substitution for Teacher He, I also lectured on the *Neijing* every afternoon. Sensing that students were uninterested in Teacher He's Zhang-Ma commentary, I changed my approach in teaching, using Hu Yingfu's *Neijing Jiaoyi*, Luo Dongyi's *Neijing Boyi*, and Yao Zhi'an's *Suwen Jingjie Jie* as extracurricular readings. Students welcomed this, not hindered by complex texts, and found great interest. After the following Spring Festival, Teacher He's asthma flared again, and he entrusted me to lecture on the *Jinkui*. Lacking sufficient research on the *Jinkui*, I used *Jinkui Xin Dian* as the textbook, with *Jinkui Yuhan Jing Er Zhu* and *Jinkui Fanglun Benyi* as auxiliary books, preparing lessons seriously. Careful examination revealed that the *Jinkui* contains understanding of organ and meridian generation/restriction cycles, along with some infectious diseases. Therefore, while preparing, I wrote two papers: "Application of Generation and Restriction Cycles in the *Jinkui*" and "Introduction to *Jinkui Yaolue*," giving two concise reports before the formal class started, arousing student interest and eliminating fear. The *Jinkui* mentions "Yang Poison Disease," but历代 physicians lacked definite disease identification. Combining clinical experience, I believed that what TCM usually calls Lanhou Sha (severe sore throat with rash) is one such disease. Its characteristics include high fever, severe sore throat, easy suppuration, tongue resembling a raspberry, and full-face red rash with swelling, matching the *Jinkui*'s description of "Yang Poison Disease." I primarily prescribed Xijiao Dihuang Tang plus Cimicifuga (Shengma), Isatis Leaf (Daqingye), and Isatis Root (Banlangen); if temperature did not drop, I supplemented with Zixue Dan and Zhibao Dan, simultaneously applying Western Buffalo Horn powder to the throat, achieving good results. At the time, my explanation of Yang Poison met with half-belief among students. Shortly after, Lanhou Sha epidemic occurred in Zhenjiang. Hongren Hospital diagnosed it as Scarlet Fever and used my formula with good effect, leading everyone to believe without doubt.

After substituting for Teacher He in lecturing on the *Jinkui*, in 1924, I married in Wuhu and opened a practice there. In 1937, following the Lugou Bridge Incident, I moved west to Hankou, setting up a clinic in Shengcheng Li. In October 1938, as Japanese troops entered Tianjiazhen, I was forty years old and moved west again into Sichuan, practicing in Wuxian for over ten years.