Library

Among the medical formularies of the Song Dynasty, the most renowned include Chen's *San Yin Fang* (Three Causes Formulary) and Xu's *Ben Shi Fang* (Formulas from Actual Experience), which have long been printed and circulated in our country [Japan].
However, Wang's *Bai Yi Xuan Fang* (Selected Hundred-and-One Prescriptions) existed only in manuscript copies and was rarely seen in the world.
Physician Qian Tian Zijing had a particular fondness for reading this book; when applied to clinical practice [dao gui: an ancient measuring spoon for powder, metaphorically referring to medical treatment], he found its therapeutic effects to be particularly remarkable.
Yet, the book had not been widely disseminated.
Coincidentally, Di Ziyuan (courtesy name Yuan Kai) from the Western Capital was summoned to the capital city, where they met within the medical community. During their conversation regarding this book, Ziyuan lent his well-preserved Yuan Dynasty woodblock-printed copy.
Consequently, it was adopted as the blueprint for revision and underwent detailed collation, leaving Qian Zijing with no regrets.
Upon completion, Qian Zijing requested me to write a preface. I examined historical medical biographies but found no records of Wang; only Chen Zhen Sun's *Shu Lu Jie Ti* (Record of Books with Explanatory Notes) from the Song Dynasty mentions: *Shi Zhai Bai Yi Xuan Fang*, 30 volumes, authored by Wang Mengyu of Shanyin. "Bai Yi" implies the precision of the selected prescriptions [meaning one out of a hundred is flawless].
Furthermore, Chen Zao's *Jiang Hu Chang Weng Ji* (Collection of the Old Man of Jianghu) contains a preface for the hundred-one formulas, stating that Wang's given name was Mengyu, courtesy name Mengyu, and his pseudonym was "Shi Zhai." He was from Shanyin and served as the Historian of Hanyang during the Shaoxi era. This work took nineteen years of compilation to complete.
Additionally, Zhang Ji's preface from Tiantai states that "Shi Zhai," Lord Wang Shijun, governed ancient Mianyang and compiled the work during his spare time from official duties. It seems he was not a physician but rather emulated Lu Zhongxuan's practices in Zhongzhou.
*Gu Jin Yi Tong* (Comprehensive Medical History) erroneously lists his courtesy name as "Meng Yu."
Moreover, Zhu Yizun's *Pu Shu Ting Ji* (Collection from the Sun-Drying Pavilion) from the Qing Dynasty includes a postscript noting that while *Shu Lu Jie Ti* records 30 volumes and the Song *Yi Wen Zhi* (Art and Literature Catalog) records 28 volumes, the Yuan edition he possessed contained only 20 volumes, leading him to suspect it was a selection edited by later generations.
This current edition also comprises 20 volumes, aligning with Zhu's account.
The book is divided into 31 categories, recording over 1,000 prescriptions, organized clearly and comprehensively. Therefore, one cannot immediately dismiss it as non-original to Wang based solely on the volume counts cited in *Jie Ti* and the *Song Zhi*.
Zijing has meticulously studied formula arts and cherishes this volume greatly. Ziyuan traveled from a thousand miles away to assist in its publication, which is certainly not coincidental.
Recently, colleagues Shanben Zongying (courtesy name Weizhi) printed *Yang Shi Jia Cang Fang* (Yang Family's Household Formulary); Jiyada Kainan (name Lai Gan) printed *Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi* (Direct Guidance from Ren Zhai); Tsugaru Iboku (name Kenshu) printed *Wai Ke Jing Yao* (Essentials of Surgery); and Katsukawa Foshu (name Guorui) utilized movable type printing for several editions.
Other physicians' families have also successively completed the carving and printing of their medical formularies. The prosperity of medicine has never been as great as it is today, which is undoubtedly a result of the profound benevolence bestowed by the state.
Ah! Is this not praiseworthy? I record this together.
On the Dragon Boat Festival of the year Jiwei, the 11th year of Kansei
Danbo Yuanjian Lianfu wrote