Library

In my youth, I had the privilege of associating with Mr. Xue Lizhai. We once corresponded by letter; the works he personally copied and kept in his bamboo box were countless. I often secretly cherished them and could not put them down.

Mr. Xue's various surgical texts were very comprehensive and detailed. For conditions such as *longzhong* (obstructive swelling), *yongju* (carbuncles and sores), *luanjie* (muscle spasms/contractures), and *lifeng* (leprosy/malignant skin diseases), after physicians were summoned by Mr. Xue for treatment, there was no case that did not recover immediately. However, he ultimately died from a surgical disease. Therefore, many people criticized him, claiming he was rigidly attached to tonifying methods and failed to adapt flexibly. Alas! What an unjust accusation this is.

When I first met Mr. Xue, a woman suffered from a malignant swelling and was on the verge of death. Mr. Xue ultimately saved her life; this incident is recorded in medical cases. At that time, other physicians stood around holding their medicine bags, all staring in astonishment with tongues out, daring not utter a single word. In contrast, Mr. Xue treated casually and confidently, prescribing only one or two formulas daily. Without any show of agitation, he achieved success simply by sitting there, much like the disciplined troops at Jincheng under Zhao Chongguo, whose strategies were pre-determined. His adjustments between excess and deficiency, and his actions, always aligned with established wisdom. This serves as an example. Mr. Xue's medical skill was precisely what is called "divine understanding," yet the world criticizes him for being rigid. Is this not because those who value hearsay over direct observation are too numerous? As the saying goes: "A chi may have its shortcomings, and a cun may have its strengths." If we were to accept such criticism, it would imply that Bian Que (Yueren) still exists today, while the ancient methods of Huangdi and Qibo do not. Alas! How absurd.

In the past, when Yang Ziyun wrote *Tai Xuan* and *Fa Yan*, Huan Tan believed they would surely be transmitted to posterity. He also remarked that people lightly valued these books because they personally saw Yang Ziyun. Even Liu Xin, who was renowned for his erudition at the time, feared that later generations might use his books to cover sauce jars. Thus, the criticisms leveled against Mr. Xue by the world are likely of a similar nature.

I, however, believe that medicine depends solely on whether the skill is refined. If the skill is truly refined, there must inevitably be someone who rejects popular opinions and adheres to the correct path alone. Whether contemporaries recognize this or not is irrelevant. After Mr. Xue passed away, his various printed editions gradually scattered, and I purchased all of them. Later, his nephew Shiyan showed me a manuscript of *Waike Shuyao* (Essentials of Surgery). This work not only supplements the deficiencies of previous editions but also presents profound essentials, serving as a guide for surgeons. Therefore, I commissioned its collation and publication. Although I personally witnessed Mr. Xue's abilities and feel ashamed that I cannot serve as Huan Tan for him, seeing Shiyan successfully inherit the family learning, I know he has avoided the concerns Liu Xin had.

Regarding Mr. Xue's other works, most are already available in the world, so I will not discuss them further. This preface was written for *Waike Shuyao*. On the 16th day of the fifth month of summer in the Xinwei year of Longqing, Li Shen (courtesy name Qingdao) composed it.