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This *Ji* (Collection) has been in circulation for a long time, and among the gentry families, almost every household possesses a copy. Whenever external diseases occur, they copy and administer the prescriptions from the book. By chance, if efficacy is achieved, the masses regard it as divine. Even if errors are caused, people do not blame the prescription itself for its absurdity, but rather blame the physician for failing to cure. During my several years of attending the Master during clinical practice, I have frequently seen cases of back carbuncles (Fabei) and breast cancer (Ruyan), etc., which were ruined by the mistaken administration of Yanghe Tang (Warm Harmony Decoction) and Xihuang Wan (Rhino Horn Pill), the number of which is incalculable; my heart was deeply moved with pity. Therefore, I sought out a good edition, requested the Master to review and correct it for publication, so that readers of this book might know what to adopt.

One cannot distinguish Yin and Yang solely based on red and white colors. The main purport of this *Ji* is to distinguish Yin and Yang, yet its method of distinction does not differentiate pulse and respiration, nor does it distinguish deficiency and excess; it merely takes the redness or whiteness of color as the criterion. It fails to realize that within Yin there is Yang, and within Yang there is Yin; that there are true heat patterns and false heat patterns; true cold patterns and false cold patterns. If one uniformly distinguishes based on the redness or whiteness of color, how can errors be avoided?

Surgery cannot proceed without understanding pulse theory. Regardless of whether it is an abscess, ulcer, sore, or swelling, although the symptoms manifest externally, the disease must originate internally. Even minor conditions like carbuncle poison, tinea, or scabies must have internal fire toxin, damp-heat, etc., before manifesting externally. Before the onset of symptoms, the pulse must first exhibit images such as surging (Hong), rapid (Shu), wiry (Xian), or slippery (Hua). Furthermore, there are cases where external symptoms are mild but the root constitution is severely depleted; there are cases where internal diseases and external symptoms erupt simultaneously. Without carefully distinguishing pulse theory, how can one differentiate between deficiency and excess, cold and heat, and the root and branch, as well as their sequence? Yet the book states: "Not knowing pulse theory, one can still save lives." This is truly like talking in one's sleep.

Surgery cannot avoid studying the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions); regarding lung abscess (Fei Yong), lung gangrene (Fei Ju), and lung flaccidity (Fei Wei), careful differentiation of pulse images will reveal the diagnosis naturally. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) states: Someone asked, "The pulse at the cunkou position is rapid, the person coughs, yet instead has turbid saliva and froth in the mouth. What is the reason?" The Master said, "This is the disease of lung flaccidity (Fei Wei). If the mouth is dry and crackling, and coughing causes hidden pain in the chest, while the pulse is surprisingly slippery and rapid, this is lung abscess (Fei Yong). Coughing up pus and blood with a rapid and deficient pulse indicates lung flaccidity (Fei Wei); a rapid and excess pulse indicates lung abscess (Fei Yong)." Thus, the signs of lung abscess (Fei Yong) can be known by observing the pulse; what is difficult about perceiving them? Yet the book claims that various ailments are easy to recognize, but lung abscess (Fei Yong) is hard to perceive. This is precisely because of ignorance of pulse theory and failure to study the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, leading to such errors.

This *Ji* has been circulated for a long time, passed down through generations with confusion and errors, causing significant harm. Therefore, I sought the Qiu family edition from the Daoguang era, re-corrected it, keeping all drug dosages exactly as they were. Only comments were added to facilitate selection.

The prescriptions and herbs selected in this *Ji* are half indispensable for surgery (Yangke). All prescriptions without added comments are balanced, safe, and usable. However, the methods regarding drug properties and processing are too brief; it would be proper to refer to *Bencao Bei Yao* (Compendium of Materia Medica Prepared for Use) and *Leigong Paozhi* (Leigong's Processing Methods).

Linwu Sanren stated: "In surgery, not knowing pulse theory, one can still save lives." Wu Gengsheng refuted this very correctly. Generally speaking, although surgery is slightly easier than internal medicine, if one does not know the pulse and only differentiates external appearance and color, using redness and whiteness to judge cold and heat, how can one distinguish between true/false cold and heat, and deficiency/excess and Yin/Yang? However, to master pulse studies finely and without error is rare not only among surgeons but also among internists. For those who do not understand pulse theory, using the simple medical thermometer I authored to measure cold and heat can also yield clear results.

Recorded by Jiechen