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It is a common saying that "prescribing medicine is like deploying troops." This is because medicines should not be used lightly. However, if used appropriately, they can indeed yield immediate results, with the medicine arriving and the disease departing. What method achieves this? The answer is: success cannot be attained without studying the *Bencao* (Compendium of Materia Medica). Yet, the difficulty in studying *Bencao* lies in the fact that although the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) is classic, its language is profound and its meanings are deep and extensive. Often, people spend their entire lives until their hair turns white, yet still struggle to grasp the essentials. Later authors of *Bencao* works emerged one after another, each presenting their own theories, leaving students at a loss as to which path to follow. Moreover, these works are voluminous; even for scholars with keen intellects, memorization and recitation are arduous tasks. In such circumstances, seeking an excellent edition of *Bencao* that everyone can read and find convenient is indeed extremely difficult.

This winter, Mr. Wu Jingfu presented to me the *Bencao Bian Du* (Convenient Reading of Materia Medica) authored by Mr. Zhang Zhaojia, and requested that I write a preface. Upon reading it, I found that while the text is concise, within each herb entry, all aspects including nature, flavor, qi, quality, meridian tropism, zang-fu organ associations, and all methods of processing and frying are fully detailed. The language is brief yet comprehensive in meaning. For students, reading it saves the trouble of rote memorization and allows them to appreciate its underlying principles. Thus, it is called "Bian" (convenient), offering unparalleled convenience. Those aspiring to practice medicine, if they take this book as a model, will find that they can achieve great results with little effort. By carefully savoring it, and further by mastering it intuitively, one may then consult other *Bencao* texts or even discard them. It is not merely convenient for the present time! Thousands of years hence, I know that many will benefit from its utility and receive its blessings. This is the preface.

Written by your humble brother Wu Bing, Prefect of Wujin County, with the title of Tongzhi and the degree of Jinshi conferred by imperial examination, in the twelfth month of the Gengyin year of the Guangxu era (1890).

Regarding the *Bencao*, there have been many writings by famous scholars, but editions that are truly convenient for readers are rarely seen. Li Dongyuan's *Yaoxing Fu* (Ode to Drug Properties) and Yunlin's *Yaoxing Ge Kuo* (Song of Drug Properties) are indeed simple and easy to read. However, they do not detail which zang-fu organs the drugs enter, which meridians they traverse, nor do they thoroughly explain cases where different parts of the same plant (branches vs. roots) have different uses, or where the same name refers to different species with varying suitability. Therefore, reading them is akin to not reading them at all. Li Shicai's *Bencao* section in *Yizong Bixiu* (Essential Readings for Medical Practitioners), consisting of two volumes, features parallel sentences and clear categorization, making it a standard text for medical students who find it convenient. However, it lacks systematic organization regarding zang-fu and meridians, and does not comprehensively cover the uses of branches/roots or species variations. Thus, it ultimately fails to satisfy the reader completely. Recent high-quality editions, such as Chen Xiuyuan's *Bencao Jing Du* (Reading of the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Huang Yuanyu's *Changsha Yaojie* (Explanation of Drugs from Changsha), and *Yuqiu Yaojie* (Explanation of Drugs from Yuqiu), are almost found in every household. Yet, *Jing Du* aims for antiquity, adhering strictly to the original text's punctuation, making it inconvenient to read. *Changsha Yaojie* is well-crafted and readable, but *Yuqiu Yaojie* has inconsistencies, making it still somewhat inconvenient. From this, we sigh that a perfect *Bencao* reader is indeed hard to come by.

In the Renchen year (1892), Mr. Zhang Zhaojia showed me his *Bencao Bian Du* and asked for a preface. After reading it, I observed that its analysis of drug properties and flavors is very clear, its discussion of zang-fu organs and meridians is thorough, and its explanation of the uses of branches/roots and species suitability is complete. Furthermore, the phrasing is naturally refined without forced polishing, and the couplets are naturally balanced without deliberate carving. Such achievement is unlikely unless one has accumulated learning and deep thought over decades, explored the classics, studied natural laws, possessed a sincere desire to save lives, and harbored a hidden intention to guide junior practitioners. I was overjoyed and felt fortunate for those who study *Bencao* in the world. This is the preface.

Respectfully written by your humble brother Yun Sizan, in the Renchen year of the Guangxu era (1892).