余忝职内阁。思日赞襄。以少俾几务。暇日尤不敢以自逸。凡内藏秘典上而皇史坟书
宸翰瑶章鸟篆龙蟠仙经释部兵历石室玄经等书。下至农史稗说野谈山堂考记医卜等数九流
等书。无不探讨。然资力有定。如窥豹见其一斑。九鼎尝其寸 。弗能尽也。求其济斯世
于仁寿。以登于春台之上。元元无夭疠之患。以跻于安今之域者。无以加于书。切于日用
之常。因叹曰。炎帝之试百草。一日频死。天神默佑。因而复苏。着为令书。天下万世。
赖其生全。后世若伯岐之内经。雷公之炮制。伊芳尹之汤液。越人之针砭。仓公之神鉴。以
逮叔和之难经。仲景之伤寒。丹溪之心法。河间之杂症。东垣之十书。千门万户。百家殊
途。悉根于炎帝之浚其源而各适其流者也。莫不有功于斯民。余甚究心焉。正欲稽其术而
未能。适有族属字子极者。持书二帙以示余曰。某少而从儒弗获能博一第。乃究心于医学。
孳孳汲汲。今已桑榆。生平精力。竭于此矣。弗知可传于天下后世否。余视其书。一则伤
寒之视舌。一则外科之启玄。皆有以广前人之所未备。补前人之所不足。其中议论精详。考
究悉当。某病某脉。某脉某药。宣通补泻。君臣佐使。明岁运寒暄。各适其宜。此真得异
人之秘传。加之以心得之正法。付之梓人。有美则爱。爱则传者乎。吁。此正仁者之用心。
登斯民于仁寿。有功于天下万世者也。昔穆伯论太上立德。其次立功。其次立言。士有此
三者。然后可以垂名之不朽。其既立言者耶。名垂不朽。与霄壤并。余族有若人。其利溥。
其德宏矣。申子名拱宸。斗垣其别号也。
赐进士及第大学士。申时行撰。
I, though unworthy, hold a position in the Grand Secretariat. I ponder daily how to assist in governance so that official duties may be facilitated smoothly. In my leisure time, I dare not indulge in ease or idleness. Regarding secret classics stored within the inner palace, from those up to the books in the Huangshi Cheng (Imperial Archives), the Emperor's own calligraphy, immortal scriptures and Buddhist sections written in bird-seal and dragon-coil scripts, military chronicles, astronomical calendars, and mysterious treatises of stone chambers; down to agricultural records, historical accounts, unofficial histories, mountain hall examinations, medical divination, and numerology texts belonging to the nine schools of thought—all these have been thoroughly explored and studied. However, one's innate capacity and energy are fixed. It is like peering at a leopard and seeing only one spot, or tasting meat from the Nine Cauldrons and sampling but an inch; one cannot exhaustively comprehend everything.
To seek a means to bring the world into benevolence and longevity, to elevate people to the joyous realm akin to a spring terrace, ensuring that the common folk suffer no premature death or pestilence, thereby entering a domain of peace and stability—nothing surpasses medicine for this purpose. It is intimately connected with daily life. Thus, I sigh: When Shennong (the Yan Emperor) tasted hundreds of herbs, he died repeatedly in a single day. Protected by divine spirits, he revived. He recorded these findings as authoritative texts, allowing all generations under heaven to rely on them for survival.
Later works include *Neijing* (Inner Canon) by Boqi (Qibo), processing techniques by Leigong, decoctions by Yifangyin (Yi Yin), acupuncture and moxibustion by Yueren (Bian Que), miraculous diagnoses by Cangong (Chunyu Yi), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) by Shuhe (Wang Shuhe), *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) by Zhongjing (Zhang Zhongjing), Xinfa (Essential Methods) by Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng), Zazheng (Miscellaneous Diseases) by Hejian (Liu Wansu), and the Ten Books by Dongyuan (Li Gao). Countless schools and diverse paths all originate from the source opened by the Yan Emperor, each flowing into its own stream. None fail to benefit the people. I have devoted myself deeply to studying these arts, yet I have not fully mastered their techniques.
Recently, a clansman named Zi Ji presented two volumes to me, saying: "In my youth, I studied Confucianism but failed to obtain a degree through examination. Therefore, I dedicated myself to medicine, striving diligently until now, in my twilight years. All my life's energy has been exhausted here. I do not know if it can be transmitted to the world and future generations." Upon viewing his books, I found one focused on tongue diagnosis in Shanghan disease, and the other titled *Waike Qixuan* (Enlightening the Mysterious in Surgery). Both broaden what predecessors left incomplete and supplement their deficiencies. The discussions therein are precise and detailed, and the research is entirely appropriate. Specific diseases correspond to specific pulses, and specific pulses dictate specific herbs. Principles of dispersing, unblocking, tonifying, and purging, along with the roles of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy in formula composition, are adapted to the climatic variations of annual fortune. This truly represents a secret transmission from extraordinary masters, combined with correct methods derived from personal insight. Having it printed and published stems from love for excellence, and because of this love, it is disseminated. Alas! This is indeed the heart of a benevolent person, elevating the people to benevolence and longevity, benefiting the world for all ages.
Formerly, Mu Bo discussed that the highest merit is establishing virtue, the next is establishing achievement, and the third is establishing words. A scholar possessing these three can achieve immortality of name. Mr. Zi Ji belongs to the category of "establishing words." His fame will endure as long as heaven and earth. My clansman possesses such broad benefits and great virtue. Shen Gongchen, courtesy name Douyuan, is his pseudonym.
Written by Shen Shixing, Doctor of Jinshi Rank and Grand Secretary.