Library

I have heard that Heaven and Earth possess the greatest virtue in broadly giving birth to all things, thereby completing the formation of all entities without omission. The Sage assists the transformation and nourishment of Heaven and Earth; thus, he gathers the Five Blessings (Wu Fu) to bestow them widely upon the common people. As for the people as a class of beings, the wise are few and the foolish are many. If their daily routines are irregular and their diet unregulated, they will be harmed externally by the pathogenic factors of Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, and Wind (Han, Shu, Zao, Shi, Feng), and internally their Qi will be disrupted by emotional excesses of Joy, Anger, Pensive worry, Sorrow, and Fear. When both Form (Xing) and Qi are injured, disease arises from this. The Sage was concerned about this, believing that Zhuyou therapy (an ancient therapeutic method involving incantations and psychological suggestion) alone could not resolve all ailments. Therefore, he prepared medicinal substances, needles, and moxa to attack the pathogens of the Eight Winds and Six Qi (Ba Feng Liu Qi); he formulated decoctions (Tang Ye) and fermented wines (Lao Li) to assist the righteous Qi corresponding to the Four Seasons and Five Elements, preventing illness before it occurs and treating it after it has arisen, so that all things may thrive according to their nature and people do not die prematurely. This also implies that without establishing canonical doctrines, one cannot benefit future generations. Thus, looking up to emulate the Way of Heaven and looking down to adapt to geographical conditions, investigating the root of Yin and Yang, and clarifying the causes of life and death, he examined ancient texts and verified them in the present, took from his own experience and applied it to others, compiled these into a book, inscribed them on jade tablets, stored them in golden caskets, proclaimed them in the halls of the Bureau of Civil Administration, kept them secret in the Linglan Chamber (ancient library), awaiting later philosophers to utilize them for endless benefit. His heart of benevolence towards people and love for all things can indeed be said to have reached its utmost limit! However, the words are extremely concise, the arguments extremely essential, and the principles extremely profound. Scholars of later generations, even if possessing superior intelligence, would find it difficult to penetrate its mysteries unless they study with intense concentration and careful deliberation. Therefore, among the vast expanse of time, those who could make a name in the world through this art certainly existed. Yet, regarding those possessing the qualities of Divine, Sage, Skillful, and Ingenious (Shen, Sheng, Gong, Qiao) who independently acquired the untransmitted secrets of previous generations, figures like He Huan (Yi He) and Yue Ren (Bian Que) numbered no more than ten or so. Moreover, since the distance from the Sages is far, branches and schools have multiplied, splitting into numerous specialties, and professions have become specialized. Consequently, each person adheres to their partial view and is unwilling to investigate the whole, making them even less capable than those of millennia past. Accumulated habits become norms, and detrimental practices grow worse, leading to fear that the Great Way will gradually fade away. Thus, *Shengji Zonglu* (General Records of the Holy Relief) was compiled. Spanning over two hundred volumes, containing nearly two million characters from beginning to end, it categorizes diseases into sections, each with corresponding formulas. It establishes theories based on classics, where each theory has a systematic unity. Its purpose is likely to enable readers to observe theories to identify diseases and prescribe medicines based on formulas, so that there would be no disease unrecognized in the world and no medicine wrongly administered. Only whether the treatment method follows the principle of contrary or parallel treatment (Ni Cong), and the sequence of treatment, depends on the wise to choose what is appropriate and follow what is suitable. In essence, it is the summary of medical classics, a guide for learners, and the master of people's lives. Regrettably, it was first completed during the Zhenghe era and reprinted during the Dading era. Having passed through a century, errors such as "three pigs" (San Shi zhi E - textual corruption) inevitably occurred. Now, Our Sovereign governs heaven with divine sagacity, refines institutions, and fully implements governance tools. He considers that although the contents of this book are but the remnants of former Sages, its means to relieve and aid the people is also an assistance to good governance. Therefore, he issued an edict to the Jiangzhe Provincial Secretariat to have the relevant authorities print it and distribute it throughout the realm. Although any inaccuracies have been corrected, and further imperial grace has been bestowed, ordering me to write a preface. I, being truly ignorant and shallow, dare not measure myself appropriately, yet I look up to Your Majesty's virtue which is like Heaven, nurturing and shaping all categories of existence. Since your ascension to the throne, now seven years have passed. Your grace permeates flying and swimming creatures, and your benevolence extends to grass and trees. Yet you still toil day and night, extensively seeking the hardships of the people; if even one thing is not in its proper place, you must feel sorrowful. I believe that the reappearance of this book can, above, assist in harmonizing the benefits of Heaven and Earth, and below, permanently secure the lives of the multitude. With all things free from pestilence, everyone will enter the realm of benevolence and longevity.

On the first day of the second month of the fourth year of Dade, Jiao Yangzhi, Minister of State, Academician of the Academy of Erudition, Grand Councilor of Class Yi, and Vice Director of the Bureau of Ceremonial, respectfully wrote this preface.