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Physicians have the ability to safeguard human life; therefore, a world without physicians is unthinkable. However, if physicians instead hasten death, then a world without them might be preferable. Since the times of Lu Qian (Bian Que) and Qin Yueren (Bian Que), medical arts have diversified into many schools. Each family holds its own theories, and each person writes their own books. Although each has its biases and lacks uniformity, as long as one deeply understands the doctrines of a single school, there will naturally be methods for adaptation and remedy, ultimately avoiding harm to the world. Recently, those who practice medicine lack refined learning and rush to seek profit. Quack doctors are everywhere, yet few people live to an old age! I have deep experience in the world and have witnessed that deaths among men suffering from consumptive diseases (Lao Zhai), women during pregnancy and childbirth, and children with convulsions and smallpox are particularly tragic. When these conditions are critical, physicians claim there is no other cure, while families believe that not taking the medicine leads to the same outcome—death. Ultimately, they take the prescribed formula but still die. I have often doubted this but dared not make subjective judgments. Now, having seen Mr. Xu Huixi’s book *Shenji Chuyan* (Cautious Words on Illness), I realize that the treatment methods I previously encountered all violated the prohibitions stated in this book. Mr. Xu has explained these points in detail and warned against them earnestly. For those ignorant of medical principles facing the life-and-death juncture of their flesh and blood relatives, regret arises whether they use medicine or not; their hearts are indeed uneasy. With this book as a guide, perhaps they will not lose their way! I regret reading this book too late and sincerely wish that all practitioners and healers read it early. Thus, I sent it back to my hometown to be printed and widely circulated in Rongcheng. The printer of this book is Mr. Xu’s great-grandson, who also inscribed this note to present it. Written by Peng Yinzhang of Changsha.

When I was twenty years old, my family suffered from frequent illnesses. There were many medical books collected by my ancestors, which I consulted from time to time, merely wishing to gain some familiarity with formulas and herbs. As my habit grew, I traced back to the roots of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), and followed the branches down through the Han and Tang dynasties. This process took over ten years before I annotated the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues). Another ten years passed before I annotated the *Ben Cao* (Materia Medica). Yet another ten years went by before I wrote *Yixue Yuanliu Lun* (Discourse on the Origins and Development of Medicine). Five more years later, I completed *Shanghan Leifang* (Classified Formulas for Cold Damage Disorders). Over fifty years, I reviewed approximately one thousand volumes and broadly scanned over ten thousand volumes. Every time a period elapsed, I would regret previous omissions, for learning advances with age. However, contemporary physicians completely abandon ancient texts, creating treatments arbitrarily according to their whims, resulting in many unjust deaths, which breaks my heart. Several years ago, I compiled a booklet titled *Chuyan* (Humble Words) to awaken the public, but few heeded it. Reflecting that I live in a prosperous era yet contribute little to the world, and that despite half a lifetime of arduous study producing several works, they merely discuss medicine generally without shocking or enlightening language, I once again poured out my heart and bones. Based on the original *Chuyan*, I added more thorough and incisive analysis. This was driven by overwhelming compassion that I could not restrain. I hope readers will understand my painstaking efforts, examine the content with an open mind, and apply it: when treating others, reverence and caution can minimize errors; when treating oneself, wisdom and philosophy can preserve one’s life. I hope to find believers so that this tradition may survive by a thread.
Inscribed by Xu Lingtai of Huixi, on an auspicious day in the seventh month of autumn, Dinghai year of the Qianlong reign.
Proofread and printed by his great-grandson, on the sixteenth day of the fifth month of summer, Yiyu year of the Daoguang reign.