一切道术，必有本源，未有目不睹汉唐以前之书，徒记时尚之药数种而可为医者。今将学医必读之书并
读法，开列于下，果能专心体察，则胸有定见，然后将后世之书，遍观博览，自能辨其是非，取其长而去其短矣。
《灵枢经》此明经络、脏腑之所以生成，疾病之所由侵犯。针灸家不可不详考，方脉家略明大义可也。
《素问》 此明受病之源及治病之法，千变万化，无能出其范围。如不能全读，择其精要切实者，熟记可也。
《伤寒论》此一切外感之总诀，非独治伤寒也。明于此，则六淫之病无不通贯矣。
《金匮》此一切杂病之祖方，其诸大症，已无不备。能通其理，天下无难治之病矣。
神农本草《神农本草经》止三百六十种，自陶宏景以后，药味日增，用法益广，至明李时珍《纲
目》而大备。其书以本经为主，而以诸家之说附之。读者字字考验，则能知古人制方之妙义，而用之不穷矣。
《外台秘要》、《千金方》二书汇集唐以前之经方、秘方，及妇科、儿科、外科无所不备，博大深微。
必明乎《灵》、《素》、仲景之书，方能知所审择，不至泛滥，而无所适从矣。
妇科、儿科 妇人除经、带、胎、产之外，与男子同。小儿除惊、痫、痧、痘而外，与老壮同。所以古
人并无专科，后人不能通贯医理，只习经、产、惊、痘等方药，乃有专科。若读前所列之书，则已无所不能，
更取后世所着《妇人良方》、《幼科新书》等参观可也。
外科 其方亦具《千金》、《外台》。后世方愈多而法愈备，如《窦氏全书》、《疡科选粹》，俱
可采取。惟恶毒之药及轻用刀针，断宜切戒。
《御纂医宗金鉴》 源本《灵》、《素》，推崇《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》以为宗旨，后乃博采众论，
严其去取，不尚新奇，全无偏执，又无科不备，真能阐明圣学，垂训后人。足征圣朝仁民之术，无所不周。
习医者即不能全读古书，只研究此书，足以名世。何乃不此崇信，而反从事于近世杜撰无稽之说也？
All arts and techniques must have their origin. There is no one who, without having read books from before the Han and Tang dynasties, can become a physician merely by memorizing a few drugs popular in contemporary times. The following lists the essential books for learning medicine and the methods of reading them. If one can indeed focus on careful observation and understanding, one will have firm views in mind. Subsequently, by broadly reviewing books from later generations, one will naturally be able to distinguish right from wrong, adopt their strengths, and discard their weaknesses.
*Ling Shu Jing* (Spiritual Pivot): This book clarifies the principles of the generation of meridians and zang-fu organs, as well as the reasons why diseases invade the body. Acupuncturists must examine it in detail; physicians specializing in herbal prescriptions need only understand its general principles.
*Sù Wèn* (Plain Questions): This book elucidates the origins of disease and methods of treatment. Its variations are myriad, yet none fall outside its scope. If one cannot read it entirely, one may select the most essential and practical parts and memorize them thoroughly.
*Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage): This is the comprehensive guide for all exogenous diseases, not limited solely to cold damage. Once understood, one will grasp all diseases caused by the Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire).
*Jin Gui* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet): This is the ancestral source for all miscellaneous diseases, covering all major syndromes comprehensively. If one understands its principles, there will be no incurable diseases in the world.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica): Originally containing only 360 substances, the number of drugs increased daily after Tao Hongjing, with usage becoming more extensive, reaching full maturity in Li Shizhen's *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) during the Ming Dynasty. This work takes the *Bencao Jing* as its main text and appends theories from various schools. By verifying every word, readers can comprehend the profound meaning behind ancient prescription formulations and apply them endlessly.
*Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials from the Imperial Library) and *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold): These two works compile classical and secret prescriptions from before the Tang Dynasty, covering gynecology, pediatrics, and surgery comprehensively. Their content is vast and profound. One must first understand the *Ling Shu*, *Su Wen*, and the works of Zhang Zhongjing to know how to select judiciously, avoiding aimless wandering through excessive information.
Gynecology and Pediatrics: Women differ from men only in menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, and childbirth. Children differ from adults only in convulsions, epilepsy, sand diseases, and smallpox. Therefore, ancients did not establish specialized departments. Later generations, failing to grasp medical principles holistically, focused only on formulas for menstruation, childbirth, convulsions, and smallpox, leading to the creation of specialties. If one studies the books listed above, one will be competent in all areas; additionally, consulting later works such as *Furen Liangfang* (Good Prescriptions for Women) and *Youke Xinshu* (New Book on Pediatrics) is advisable.
Surgery: Its prescriptions are also found in *Qianjin Fang* and *Waitai Miyao*. Later generations developed more prescriptions and refined methods, such as those in *Dou Shi Quan Shu* (Complete Works of the Dou Family) and *Yangke Xuanhui* (Selected Essence of Surgery), which can be adopted. However, toxic drugs and the casual use of knives and needles should be strictly prohibited.
*Yuzuan Yizong Jinjian* (Imperially Compiled Golden Mirror of Medicine): Originating from the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, it promotes the *Shanghan Lun* and *Jin Gui Yao Lue* as its core principles. It subsequently gathers diverse theories, rigorously selecting what to include or exclude. It does not pursue novelty, lacks bias, covers all specialties, and truly elucidates sage learning to instruct future generations. This fully demonstrates the comprehensive benevolent medical practices of the sacred dynasty. A student of medicine, even if unable to read all ancient texts, could achieve fame by studying this single book. Why then reject this trusted authority to engage in baseless fabrications of recent times?