一医学自轩岐仲景。一脉相承。而近世名家。视素问为迂远不切。伤寒论为古法不可以治今
病。至于灵枢金匮。并其书而未闻也。是编首列灵素病机。次则金匮治例。以冠诸论。第文辞质
奥。非肤浅辈可知。故详加释义。以明其旨。独不及伤寒论者。以伤寒缵绪二论。先梓行世故也。
一艺术之学。惟医林最繁。汗牛充栋。莫可名喻。然灵素金匮而外。求其理明辞畅。如王安道、
赵嗣真、赵养葵、张景岳、喻嘉言者。指不多屈。即历代名医。造艺各有所长。文理不能兼善。
故选择方论。如披沙拣金。况多支辞复义。彼此互引。不得不稍为笔削。其文气有不续处。略加
短语以贯之。辞义有不达处。聊易数字以畅之。一切晦滞难明者。虽出名贤。概置不录。
一各证治例。类次系诸论之后。皆从古相承。未能逐一辨其出自某某。有例虽明确。而治未
允当者。或经治验。或加体会。易以对证方药。非故为举措。变乱成则也。然亦不过如匠氏之绳
墨。又必临病审察。随其所禀之偏胜。形志之苦乐而为处方。所以一例后有主二三方者。如金匮
例云。短气有微饮。当从小便去之。苓桂术甘汤主之。肾气丸亦主之。病溢饮者。当发其汗。大
青龙汤主之。小青龙汤亦主之。小便不利蒲。灰散主之。滑石白鱼散、茯苓戎盐汤并主之。所谓
医不执方。合宜而用者。其斯之谓欤。
一古今治按。如儒者之历科程文。而诸家所辑方书。都未之及。且从古立言。止就一端而论。
人之所患。都兼并不一。
非详究古人治验。不能识治法之奥。故于诸按中。择其可以为法者。附列论例之末。非若类按之
泛引稗官野史。以混耳目。
一论中所用诸方。祖方各归其源。专方各隶本门。更有不专一门。不归一源之方。曾采用于
前者。以后但着见于某门。不复叠载。祖方则循序贯列。令知某汤中加某药。即为某方治某病。
究其出入增减之意。便获古人用药心法。盖临病制方。原非作意师古。即如善于奕者。下手辄成
谱势。与医者之投剂不殊。然古方中有极峻厉。极迅烈。难于轻试者。有顺逆反正配合。寒热补
泻互用。深奥难明其理者。有故用相反之性。激其成功者。有奇兵暂用。随手转关者。各于方后
发明其义。则极峻厉。极奇奥诸方。皆为常胜之师。庶学人胸中不胶执古方不可治今病之说。斯
不愧乎大方。洵非专守药性用药者。可同日而语也。间有古方因病杂合。而制难于取法者。稍为
更易。以合本条治例。方下标名改定。不敢混厕以浼先哲也。
一是编证类次第。悉如准绳。而所辑方论。更迭出入。肇是甲申。迄今癸酉。岁逾五甲。稿
凡十易。勒成一十六卷。而所选不欲太繁。繁则郢书燕说。读者愈滋其惑。又不能太简。简则井
蛙鼹鼠。临证罔知所措。务在广搜历览。由博反约。千古名贤至论。统叙一堂。八方风气之疾。
汇通一脉。俾后世修性命之学人。昭然共由。而趋世骛名者。歧路攸分。请毋事此。
1. Medicine, from Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo to Zhang Zhongjing, has been passed down in an unbroken line. However, modern famous doctors regard the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) as pedantic, remote, and impractical, and view the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) as ancient methods incapable of treating contemporary diseases. As for the *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), some have not even heard of these books. This compilation first lists the pathogenesis theories from the *Lingshu* and *Suwen*, followed by treatment examples from the *Jingui Yaolue*, serving as the introduction to all discussions. The original texts are plain and profound, beyond the comprehension of superficial individuals; therefore, detailed explanations have been added to clarify their purport. The reason the *Shanghan Lun* is not covered here is that two treatises from the *Shanghan Zuanxu* (Continuation of the Treatise on Cold Damage) had already been published earlier.
2. Among scholarly disciplines, medicine is the most extensive. Books are so numerous they could fill a warehouse, defying description. Yet, apart from the *Lingshu*, *Suwen*, and *Jingui Yaolue*, works with clear principles and fluent expression are rare. Figures such as Wang Andao, Zhao Sizhen, Zhao Yangkui, Zhang Jingyue, and Yu Jiayan are few in number. Even among famous doctors of past dynasties, while each excelled in specific skills, few mastered both literary elegance and medical theory. Thus, selecting formulas and discussions is like sifting sand for gold. Many texts contain repetitive rhetoric and mutual citations, necessitating slight editing. Where the flow of text is interrupted, brief phrases are added to connect them; where meaning is obscure, a few words are changed to ensure clarity. All content that is obscure and difficult to understand, even if from renowned sages, is excluded.
3. Treatment cases for various syndromes are classified and appended after the theoretical discussions, following ancient traditions. It is not possible to verify the exact origin of each case. Some cases, though clear, may have inappropriate treatments; others have been verified clinically or refined through personal experience, with formulas adjusted to suit the syndrome. This is not an arbitrary alteration of established rules but rather akin to a carpenter's ink line—a standard guide. One must still carefully examine the disease, prescribing based on the patient's constitutional biases and physical/emotional states. Hence, one case may be followed by two or three formulas. For instance, the *Jingui Yaolue* states: "For shortness of breath accompanied by mild fluid retention, promote urination." Linggui Zhugan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes Macrocephala, and Licorice Decoction) is the primary formula; Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) is also applicable. "For patients with Yi Yin (overflowing water retention), induce sweating." Da Qinglong Tang (Major Green Dragon Decoction) is primary; Xiao Qinglong Tang (Minor Green Dragon Decoction) is also used. "For difficulty in urination," Puhui San (Reed Catkin Powder) is indicated; Huashi Baiyu San (Talcum, White Fish, and Powder) and Fuling Rongyan Tang (Poria and Saltwort Decoction) are also effective. This illustrates the principle that "physicians do not rigidly adhere to fixed formulas but apply them appropriately according to the situation."
4. Ancient and modern clinical notes are comparable to examination essays in Confucian scholarship, yet most compiled medical formularies neglect them. Ancient authors often discussed only one aspect of a disease, whereas patients' conditions are frequently complex and mixed. Without thoroughly studying ancient clinical validations, one cannot grasp the subtleties of treatment methods. Therefore, among various notes, those deemed exemplary are appended at the end of the theoretical sections, unlike other compilations that indiscriminately cite unofficial histories to confuse readers.
5. In the formulas cited in this work, ancestral formulas are traced to their origins, and specialized formulas are categorized under their respective sections. Formulas that do not belong to a single category or origin, which were previously adopted, are listed only once under the relevant section to avoid duplication. Ancestral formulas are arranged sequentially to show how adding specific herbs to a base decoction creates a new formula for a specific disease, revealing the logic behind modifications. This helps learners acquire the essence of ancient prescription techniques. Creating formulas based on clinical presentation is not merely about imitating ancients, much like a skilled chess player naturally forming patterns upon moving pieces. However, some ancient formulas are extremely potent or rapid, making them risky to use lightly; others involve complex combinations of opposing natures (cold/heat, tonification/draining) with profound mechanisms; some intentionally use contradictory properties to stimulate therapeutic effects; and some employ unconventional tactics for sudden shifts in condition. Explanations are provided after each formula to reveal these principles, transforming even the most potent or esoteric formulas into reliable tools. This prevents students from clinging to the notion that "ancient formulas cannot treat modern diseases," distinguishing true masters from those who merely memorize herb properties. Occasionally, ancient formulas combined for complex diseases are slightly modified to fit the specific treatment guidelines of the section, with revised names noted to avoid disrespecting ancient sages.
6. The classification order of syndromes in this compilation follows the *Zhunsheng* (Standard Measurements), while the selected formulas and discussions underwent repeated revisions from Jia Shen year to Gui You year, spanning over five years and ten drafts, resulting in sixteen volumes. The selection avoids being too extensive, which would lead to confusion like misinterpreting letters (Ying Book Yan Commentary); nor is it too concise, which would leave practitioners helpless like frogs in a well or moles underground. The goal is to search widely, learn extensively, and then distill the essence, gathering the supreme theories of ancient sages into one place. This allows diseases from all regions to be integrated into a coherent system, guiding future scholars of life and nature clearly, while separating them from those seeking fame through divergent paths. Let those not dedicated to this serious study refrain from engaging with it.