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In the month of Bingyin during the 16th year of Shaoxing of the Great Song Dynasty, Chen Dou Cai, holding the title of Wuyi Lang, submitted a memorial to His Majesty, the Jade Emperor.

I have heard that Heaven loves life and hates death, while the people below fear death and crave life. Although Heaven claims to detest killing, it merely demonstrates encouragement for good and punishment for evil to the people below; there are instances where those who should not be killed are slain. Although the people below say they crave life, attributing life and death to the Mandate of Heaven, there are instances of innocent lives lost in vain. The Supreme Heaven pities the suffering of the people below, thus employing Shennong, Huangdi, Qibo, Leigong, Bian Que, and Yufu to establish medical teachings to save people from disasters and illnesses.

Through long ages and numerous wars and fires, divine medical texts have scattered and perished; only the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) remain. Although they do not fully transmit the secret lineages, they can still relieve human suffering and preserve human life, yet they lack the divine ability to perceive internal organs, excise intestines, and cleanse marrow. (If one can comprehend the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, naturally one will perceive the internal organs. As for excising intestines and cleansing marrow, these are the clever techniques of later generations, applied with divine efficacy. Alas, this book has not been transmitted; it is likely nothing more than a marvel of technique, how could it compare to the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, which connect Heaven and humanity, clarify the hidden and the manifest, encompass all that is great, penetrate all that is minute, serving as the divine text of principles for ten thousand generations and the secret canon for saving lives?)

Later generations, Zhang Zhongjing, collected the principles of external contraction of wind and cold from the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon), appended his own views, established methods, and collected over seventy miscellaneous syndromes, compiling them into the *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) and *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet). Scholars of later times all adhered to these without daring to change them. Little did they know that since Shang Han has multiple syndromes, the *Nei Jing* naturally contains them; why force various miscellaneous diseases to be classified as Shang Han, thereby misleading many people? (If one follows the methods of Zhongjing, how could there be misleading? It is only that later scholars did not understand its purport, made arbitrary annotations, each sticking to their own views, inevitably resorting to forced interpretations, hoping to establish fame, leaving errors for future generations. They consider themselves meritorious servants of Zhongjing, but are actually sinners against him. In thousands of years, how many have truly understood the method of Shang Han?)

Subsequently, Wang Shuhe and Sun Simiao added further supplements, obscuring the sacred classics and leaving errors for posterity. Moreover, the Classic states: "The disease of Shang Han involves body heat; even if the heat is severe, death does not ensue." Regarding wind stroke, it says, "If the pathogen strikes the Shu points of the five Zang organs, it becomes hemiplegic wind." Regarding water swelling, it says, "It arises from Qi stagnation causing swelling." Regarding leprosy-like conditions, it says, "The dampness of the earth, when contracted, harms the skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels." Thus speaking, the purport is profound and the meaning broad. Later people, wishing to make difficulties easy, arbitrarily engage in forced interpretations.

Furthermore, regarding the syndromes of Shang Han, it is truly the transmission of true Qi and pathogenic factors; when true Qi is vigorous, the illness recovers; when pathogenic factors are vigorous, death occurs. Yang syndromes have no rationale for death; Yin syndromes harm people very rapidly, requiring the addition of moxibustion with mugwort to ensure safety. Zhang Zhongjing established many Chengqi Decoctions, leading later generations to misuse them, resulting in death within moments due to cold-cooling herbs. (How could the Three Chengqi Decoctions cause harm? It is only that later scholars, not understanding the way of Yin-Yang mutual restriction, used Chengqi Decoctions recklessly, causing harm. What fault lies with Zhongjing?)

Because my mother was ill, using Zhongjing's methods proved ineffective, and she ultimately could not be saved, causing me heartache and grief. I then meticulously studied the *Nei Jing*, and through silent instruction from Heaven, after ten years, achieved effective results. For all major and minor illnesses, by using only this method and extending it by analogy, the efficacy is as immediate as an echo or shadow. I have devoted myself with bitter determination for over fifty years and have comprehended the secret method of saving lives for over ten years. Previously, due to a low-ranking official post, I traveled everywhere. Now, approaching sixty years of age, I often worry that upon my death, my body will fill the ditches, and these books will be lost. Therefore, I wish to collate, verify, and print them. I earnestly hope that Heaven and Earth will bestow special compassion, protecting the people in the realm of benevolence and longevity, allowing this book to flow for ten thousand generations. Even if I die, I shall have no regrets. If a single word is untrue, I willingly accept heavenly calamity. If this book indeed benefits future generations, I earnestly pray for divine protection to widely disseminate it. (By making such a solemn oath to question the Supreme Emperor, it is evident how urgently his heart is set on the world and future generations. Scholars must not claim he biased towards heat syndromes and ignored others, thereby failing Mr. Dou's compassionate heart to save the world.) I am filled with awe and trepidation, presumptuously reporting this despite potential guilt.