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In the Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao (Sun Zhenren) authored the *Qianjin Yaofang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold). He stated that in the way of nurturing the people, nothing is greater than treating the care of children as paramount. Without young soldiers, a great army cannot be formed. Therefore, Sun’s medical texts prioritize pediatrics before addressing adult men and the elderly, which truly embodies the principle of revering the root. It is like fine seedlings and good plants; on the day they are born, if their roots are not cultivated and pests are not removed, few will survive to maturity. Even if they luckily grow up, their flowers and fruits will surely not be abundant. Thus, the urgent need to study pediatrics is indeed the primary task of the medical field.

However, children have weak constitutions and often cannot describe their own illnesses when sick, so physicians refer to pediatrics as "Ya Ke" (Mute Department), which is the most difficult to treat. Practitioners of this specialty must first have a clear understanding in their minds regarding the warmth and coldness of heavenly conditions, the high and low aspects of geographical terrain, as well as the circulation of the Twelve Meridians (Twelve Primary Channels) of the human body, the starting and ending points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, and the locations of the 365 acupoints. Upon clinical examination, they must observe complexion and listen to voice, repeatedly analyzing and deducing, only then can they thoroughly comprehend the condition and avoid mishandling the case.

Therefore, it is said that protecting the people is like protecting an infant. Indeed, one who protects the people must fully understand the hardships of the common folk, refrain from imposing what they dislike, and gather what they desire, so that the people may find peace. Similarly, one who protects an infant must sincerely seek out the infant's hidden needs, regulate their hunger and fullness in time, and adapt to their temperature comfort, so that the infant may remain secure.

With my humble talents, I was ordered to inspect the Lianghu region, supervise military affairs, and concurrently manage civil administration. Day and night, I live in awe and fear, not daring to neglect broad inquiries and consultations, hoping to identify the hardships of the populace, eliminate them, and plan for the welfare and safety of my fellow countrymen. However, preferences vary among individuals, and one person's senses are limited. Often, events do not align with wishes, and strength falls short of intent, which occasionally occurs. At this point, I felt ashamed at the difficulty of protecting the people and became even more aware of the challenge of caring for infants.

Coincidentally, my clansman, Xiao Lianke Beicheng, returned to Hubei after growing weary of official life, bringing with him a hand-collated copy of the *Xiao'er Weisheng Zongwei Lunfang* (Comprehensive Discussion on Infant Hygiene) in twenty volumes. Having long known the difficulties of pediatrics and the scarcity of good editions, I donated funds for its printing. I also consulted with Xiao Lianke Beicheng to re-collate and proofread it, thereby avoiding textual errors that might mislead future generations. Perhaps the wish to protect the people, though not fully realized in the present, allows the heart for protecting infants to fortunately be passed down to posterity. As for this book being a treasure trove of medicine and a golden needle guide for pediatrics, previous prefaces and discussions have explained this in great detail, so I shall not repeat them here.

In the early summer of the Jiazi year, [Xiao] Yaonan Hengshan, Inspector-General of Lianghu, Supervisor of Military Affairs, and Governor of Hubei Province, from Huanggang, wrote this preface at the Jiedushi Office in Wuchang.