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When the dark (earth) and bright (heaven) were first separated, upper and lower were thus divided. The harmonious qi gave rise to humans, who are the most precious among all things, inheriting the measure of yin and yang. The human form mirrors the round vault of heaven, sufficient to model and carry the earth. The five zang organs correspond to the Five Sacred Mountains; the nine orifices correspond to the Nine Provinces; the four limbs correspond to the Four Seasons; the six fu organs correspond to the Six Pitch-pipes. Vision is like the sun and moon; respiration is like wind and clouds; blood and qi flow like rivers and streams; hair and nails are compared to grass and trees. Although the body is inherited from parents, it takes its image from Heaven and Earth. So noble is this [human condition], how can life be treated lightly? Therefore, in the way of establishing oneself, aiding others comes first; in the suitability for preserving longevity, treating disease is essential. Herbs have the power to eliminate pathogens; acupuncture and moxibustion have the merit of subduing diseases. To cleanse away evil influences, indeed, these methods are beneficial.

The "Mingtang" (Hall of Light/Acupoint Chart) is the legacy teaching of sages and the orthodox scripture of the Yellow Emperor. It records the circulation of blood vessels, clarifies yin-yang mu-accumulation points, exhausts the mysteries of meridian flow, and distinguishes the roots of blood pathways. It serves as the standard for the zang-fu organs and the key thoroughfare for meridians. Now, we have collected its essence and removed its redundancy. All content is based on personal observation with evidence, and manual application with miraculous efficacy. Books describe disease sources to know primary treatments; diagrams of human forms avoid discrepancies. Additionally, pediatric Mingtang materials are collected and classified here. This is so that both young and old may tread the path of peace, and both Chinese and barbarians may return to the realm of longevity.

I have heard that when sages governed the world, they discussed diseases to understand the state, and investigated diagnosis to know governance. If royal grace does not flow, treachery arises below; thus, one must distinguish good and evil to regulate governance. If true qi does not nourish, disturbances occur within the body; thus, one must carefully use medical needles and stone knives to save the people. In the past, when our Holy Ancestor [Huangdi] questioned Qibo, he believed that those who speak well of Heaven must have corresponding principles in humanity. There are twelve degrees of Heaven, which correspond to human meridians. The degree of the celestial sphere is three hundred sixty and a half, which corresponds to human blood and qi. There are guidelines above and below, images on left and right, confluences of the Du and Ren vessels, and specific numbers for vessel unions. One exhausts the subtleties in blood vessels and participates in changes through yin and yang. Initially, their words were recorded in full and stored in the Chamber of Golden Orchids. When Leigong asked about this Way, he was taught while sitting in the Mingtang. This is the basis for later discussions on Mingtang. Thus, the techniques of moxibustion and needle insertion became complete, and the arts of the divine, sagely, skilled, and clever emerged. Like Yue Ren [Bian Que] raising the dead, Hua Tuo curing illnesses, Wang Zuan driving away evil spirits, and Qiufu treating ghosts—were these not miraculous? They all utilized this method. As time passed far from the Sages, the learning became difficult to master. Although listed in scriptures and depicted in illustrations, ink and color could easily mix, and characters often contained errors. Using pills and moxa damaged the liver; inserting needles injured the stomach. Commoners suffered harm without redemption, and mediocre doctors perpetuated errors without reflection. Who but a Sage could save us from this plague?

Our Sovereign, deeply compassionate toward the multitude, promotes the legacy of Di Xuanyuan [Huangdi] and reveres the kind instructions of Mother Wen. He ordered officials to rectify policies and commanded great physicians to be cautious with medical arts. Deeply considering the method of needles and moxa, which was formerly the duty of royal officials, concerning human life and daily urgency, he sought to correct errors and benefit the people. Wang Weiyi, Supervisor of Imperial Medicines in the Palace Service Hall, who traditionally transmitted secret prescriptions and excelled in carving bi-shi [stone needles], devoted his heart to the edict and refined his intent to resonate with the divine. He determined postures on human models and corrected measurements on mu-points. He added ancient and modern curative validations and corrected omissions in solar/lunar calculations. Gathering various theories, he compiled them into three chapters. Furthermore, because ancient commentaries were extremely subtle and scholars often held rigid views leading to mistakes, transmitting the mind is not as effective as seeing the object, and writing words is not as good as examining the form. Thus, he ordered the creation of bronze manikins as standards. Internal zang-fu organs were divided, external溪谷 [valleys/cavities] annotated, Jing-River points marked, and acupoints located. Orifices reached inward, inscriptions were carved on the side, so that viewers would see clearly and orderly, and doubts would melt away like ice. This had not been achieved before; only the Emperor set the example at this time. He then ordered attending ministers to write an introduction. It is named *Illustrated Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Meridians and Acupoints of Cast Bronze Manikins*. It was promulgated throughout the four directions, serving as a model for ten thousand generations. May many emaciated persons be saved, may major punctures be error-free, and may diseases be eliminated according to explanations, as if conversing by the Fu River; unfolding the diagram allows clear vision, as if drinking from the Shangchi pool. Protect my common people, granting them longevity. In ancient times, Xia Hou described the Six Extremes to distinguish diseases, and Yan Di asked about hundred herbs to benefit people. Indeed, virtue should yield to today's achievements, attributing success to the sacred domain.

In the fourth year of Tiansheng, in the year Ximu, on the Bing-Shen day of the eighth month of autumn, respectfully submitted.
Xia Song, titled Baron of Kaifeng County, with a fief of three hundred households, granted the Purple Gold Fish Bag.