Library

I privately believe that those who have long practiced medicine and enjoy reading the *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) and *Suwen* (Basic Questions) find their language and principles exquisite and subtle, with mysterious gates and hidden profundities. This has been difficult to grasp and not easy to master since ancient times. Therefore, the principles of acupuncture are particularly difficult to understand. The content is broad but lacks essentials; it involves labor but yields little merit. If one can exhaustively investigate and thereby attain comprehension, although the accumulation may be as vast as ten thousand ends, in recent times, many practitioners simply point out the disease and insert needles directly, neglecting proper methods.

Recently, a gentleman named He from the Southern Tang dynasty devoted himself to following the methods of antiquity and compiled three volumes of *Zhiwei Lun* (Treatise on Finger Subtleties). He explored the source of meridians, adhered to the logic of needle insertion, clarified the clarity and turbidity of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), and distinguished the specific locations of acupoints. However, this work was not widely circulated in the world. Later, during the Guiyou year of the Zhenyuan era, I collected a piece titled *Zhiwei Zhen Fu* (Ode to Acupuncture Subtleties) authored by Mr. He. Its preface states: "All follow the profound principles within *Zhiwei Lun*, the secret mechanisms hidden by former sages." It further added numerous items, totaling over a hundred categories, all convenient for consultation. Without obtaining the untransmitted secrets of the *Nanjing* and *Suwen*, who could reach such a level?

Presuming upon my own inadequacy and clumsiness, I followed its meaning and rhythm, briefly expounded short comments, gathered excerpts from various classics, and provided annotations for them. I now also collect remaining texts from the *Nanjing* and *Suwen*, along with Jia's "Sixty Verses on Jing-River Points," distribute them according to the laws of meridian circulation, reorganize the locations of acupuncture points, summarize graphical representations, and integrate them into a unified system. I name it *Liuzhu Jingluo Jingying Tu Gejue* (Song Rhymes and Mantras of Flowing-Injecting Meridians and Jing-River Points), continuing after the ode. This is not to display my own arrogance or confusion, but to illuminate Mr. He's intention and bring verified results to people. I worry that my efforts are incomplete and sincerely request wise individuals to continue and perfect it. Preface by Yan Mingguang of Changshan.

Generally, physicians consider curing diseases as excellence. Among the principles of curing diseases, none is more wondrous than acupuncture. Thus, those who understand acupuncture possess the ability to diagnose conditions accurately and achieve immediate effects. Moreover, scholars learning acupuncture should practice with caution and precision, avoiding reckless observation and arbitrary treatment settings. Such actions are not only useless but also harmful. The key lies in determining acupoint locations with mental precision, thereby achieving miraculous efficacy manifested through the hands. Indeed, removing visible ailments depends on the eyes, while diagnosing diseases relies on the hands. Therefore, Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo initiated the beginning, Bian Que (Yueren) grasped the essentials, the *Suwen* hides profound mysteries, and the *Nanjing* reveals subtleties. How can acupuncture be considered merely a minor supplement?

Humans are born receiving Yin and Yang. There are 365 days in a year, and the body has 365 acupoints distributed across limbs and joints, symbolizing the degrees of the celestial sphere. Ancient sages accomplished heavenly works and established human life, thus creating acupuncture methods. Needling specific points treats specific diseases; the hand operates while the heart responds. Only the most divine person in the world could achieve this. The eras of Lu Yi (Bian Que) were long past, and this method was rarely transmitted. My ancestor's close friend, Mr. Dou, saved many lives using acupuncture. He once wrote *Ba Xue Zhen Yan* (True Evolution of Eight Points) as treatises and odes, exploring deep mysteries and revealing hidden meanings. For students of later generations, obtaining this volume and studying it thoroughly would allow them to comprehend more than half of the subject.

In the winter of the Renchen year, I received an imperial decree to travel south, visiting various commanderies in Minzhong (Fujian region), seeking the so-called acupuncture methods, but failed to find them. In an old chest, I found Mr. Dou's遗书 (posthumous writings/books). Out of reverence, I had them carved onto woodblocks for printing to spread their transmission. The gentleman's name was Jie, courtesy name Hanqing, from Feixiang in ancient times, who rose to the rank of Grand Tutor and passed down his medical knowledge to the world.
Preface by Niu Liang of Yanshan, during the first year of Yuanzhen.