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The arrangement of *Bencao Huihui Jingyao* (Essentials of the Comprehensive Classification of Materia Medica) follows this order: first minerals and stones, then herbs, then trees, then human parts, then beasts, then birds, then insects and fish, then fruits, then grains, and finally vegetables. Each category strictly adheres to the classification of the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), divided into three grades (Upper, Middle, Lower), totaling forty-two volumes.

The original text of the *Shennong Bencao Jing* is written in vermilion ink at the front, while the content from the famous physician's *Bielu* (Additional Records) is written in black ink behind it, ensuring clarity and preventing confusion.

The book is divided into twenty-four entries: 1. "Mingji" (Name Record) records aliases; 2. "Miaoxu" (Seedling Description) narrates growth morphology; 3. "Dizai" (Geographical Record) documents origin and location; 4. "Shifen" (Time and Season) specifies harvesting seasons; 5. "Shoushu" (Storage Record) details preservation methods; 6. "Yongzhi" (Usage Indication) points out the medicinal part; 7. "Zhi ni" (Quality Simulation) depicts the drug's shape; 8. "Se bie" (Color Distinction) differentiates the five colors: green, yellow, red, white, and black; 9. "Wei zhe" (Taste Notation) indicates the five tastes: sour, pungent, sweet, bitter, and salty; 10. "Xing fen" (Nature Division) distinguishes properties such as cold, hot, warm, cool, astringent, dispersing, relaxing, hardening, and softening; 11. "Qi ju" (Qi Endowment) elaborates on the intensity of qi and yin-yang ascending/descending functions; 12. "Xiu xiang" (Odor Detail) describes odors like fishy, mutton-like, fragrant, foul, or rotten; 13. "Zhu" (Main Action) treats specific diseases; 14. "Xingzou" (Movement) explains meridian tropism; 15. "Zhuzuo" (Assistance and Support) lists auxiliary herbs for compatibility; 16. "Fan" (Opposition) notes contraindicated drugs or tastes; 17. "Zhi" (Processing) clarifies processing methods such as stir-frying, roasting, and popping; 18. "Zhi chen" (Treating Aged Drugs) discusses the therapeutic capabilities of aged materials; 19. "Hezhi" (Combined Treatment) explains synergistic effects of drug combinations; 20. "Jinjie" (Prohibitions and Warnings) alerts against careless administration; 21. "Daiyan" (Substitution) mentions substitute drugs; 22. "Jibi" (Taboos) specifies dietary restrictions; 23. "Jieshi" (Explanation) analyzes toxicity; 24. "Yanbian" (Counterfeit Identification) distinguishes genuine from fake items. These headings are marked in vermilion above, with detailed descriptions in black below each heading.

Regarding minerals and stones, based on the *Huangji Jingshi Shu* (Supreme Principles Goverding the World), they are divided into natural and artificial categories. Generally, metal and stone types are naturally formed, while salt and alum types are artificially produced. Now, following the *Jingshi Shu*, stones, water, fire, earth, and metals are categorized and supplemented to ensure comprehensiveness.

Regarding herbs, trees, grains, vegetables, and fruits, based on the *Huangji Jingshi Shu*, they are divided into four categories: grass, wood, flying, and walking. Grasses are further subdivided into grass-grass, grass-wood, grass-fly, and grass-walk. Trees, grains, fruits, and vegetables are classified together.

The growth forms of herbs and trees vary. Those growing independently and upright are called "Teseng" (Special Growth); those growing scatteredly are called "Sansheng" (Scattered Growth); those growing erect are called "Zhisheng" (Upright Growth); those climbing via vines are called "Mansheng" (Creeping Growth); those attaching to other trees are called "Jisheng" (Parasitic Growth); those clinging to walls are called "Lisheng" (Clinging Growth); and those emerging from mud or swamps are called "Nisheng" (Muddy Growth). Their shapes are described individually to facilitate identification and use.

Regarding birds, beasts, insects, and fish, they are divided into five classes based on feathers, scales, shells, fur, and bare skin (Note: The text mentions five classes but lists specific groupings differently in context, here translated literally as per source structure regarding feather/scale/bare distinctions). Each class is further divided into four reproductive modes: viviparous (tai), oviparous (luan), moist-born (shi), and transformed-born (hua).

For categories such as minerals, herbs, trees, birds, beasts, insects, fish, vegetables, fruits, and grains, although old editions listed names and uses, they lacked morphological descriptions. Now, extensive research has been conducted, illustrations added, and contents supplemented.

Drugs commonly used in the world but not recorded in old editions, such as minerals and stones: Lu Ganshi (Calamina), Egg Tube Stone, East-flowing Water, Ganlan Water (Water boiled until dry); herbs: Caoguo (Black Cardamom), Sanlai; trees: Zhangnao (Camphor), Bajiao Huixiang (Star Anise); fruits: Xiangyuan (Fragrant Orange), Ma Binglang (Areca Nut variant), Pingbo Bayan Ren, Yinxing (Ginkgo), Zizi, Bisi Da; grains: Wandou (Peas), Qing Xiaodou (Green Beans); vegetables: Hulu, Ganluzi, Mogu (Mushrooms), Xiangcai (Coriander), Weicai (Ferns), Huluobo (Carrots), Tianhua Cai; birds: Tian'e (Swan), Bao (Bustard), Shui Niao (Waterfowl); beasts: Tala Buhua, Haozhu (Porcupine). These are now researched for their form, nature, and taste, with new entries established and added to their respective sections.

For drugs where modern names differ from ancient titles, causing potential confusion, changes are made: Tongtuomu is renamed Mutong, Mutong is renamed Tongcao, Jiasu is renamed Jingjie, and Shuyu is renamed Shanyao. All are updated to commonly accepted modern names.

For drugs with the same species but different medicinal parts, such as Jiangshi containing Maifanshi, Duhuo versus Qianghuo, Gouqi versus Digupi, Chumu versus Chunmu, Humaye versus Jusheng, Muxiang versus Qingmuxiang, Gualougen versus Gualou shi, Baizhu versus Cangzhu, Shaoyao (Chi Bai), Cha versus Yelang, Dan Xiongji versus Wu Bai Ci, etc., each is separated into distinct entries to facilitate easy selection by users.

Similar salts such as Dayan, Rongyan, Guangmingyan, and Luyan all belong to the salt category and are placed after the entry for Shiyan (Table Salt). Similarly, Yenie, Konggongnie, Shihua, and Shichuang are attached to the Zhongruishi (Stalactite) entry. Herbs like Yizhiren, Yujinhua, and Huoxiang, originally in the tree section, are moved to the herb section. Awei, Mudan, and Luhui (Aloe), originally in the herb section, are moved to the tree section. Longyan, Yezi, and Feishi, originally in the tree section, are moved to the fruit section. Tangqiu is moved from external classics to the fruit section. Any items grouped by category are unified within their respective sections to prevent disorder.

Annotations from various schools in old editions were arranged chronologically by Han, Tang, and Song dynasties. It is now considered that the theories in *Tujing* (Illustrated Classic) are mostly accurate and represent prior scholarly investigation, so they are placed first. Other opinions from Tao Hongjing, Rihuazi, *Tang Bencao*, *Shu Bencao*, Chen Cangqi, and Tang Shenwei are selected for accuracy and recorded. Repetitive or verbose discussions are omitted. The *Yanyi* (Extended Meaning) book offers balanced views; although placed last, it serves to correct doubts raised by other schools. Annotations by Li Mingzhi, Wang Haogu, and Zhu Yanxiu on drug properties relevant to clinical practice are appended below.

Verbose discussions on materia medica and annotations by Hua Tuo, Wu Pu, Xu Zhicai, and Zhang Yuxi are deleted. Instead of listing every name, it is simply stated as "Bielu Yun" (Recorded in Additional Notes).

For drugs effective in recent times with consensus among scholars but under-explained in old editions, detailed verification is provided, introduced by "Jin An" (Respectfully Note).

Heaven possesses Yin and Yang, corresponding to Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire, aligning with Three Yin and Three Yang. This manifests as Warm, Cool, Cold, and Hot—the Four Qi of Heaven. Warm and Hot belong to Heavenly Yang; Cold and Cool belong to Heavenly Yin. Earth possesses Yin and Yang, corresponding to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, manifesting as Growth, Flourishing, Transformation, Harvest, and Storage, which correspond to Pungent, Sweet, Bland, Sour, Bitter, and Salty—the Five Flavors of Earth. Pungent, Sweet, and Bland belong to Earthly Yang; Sour, Bitter, and Salty belong to Earthly Yin. Thin flavors belong to Yang within Yin (e.g., bland/sour/bitter/salty neutral); thick flavors belong to Yin within Yin (e.g., sour/bitter/salty cold). Thick Qi belongs to Yang within Yang (e.g., pungent/sweet warm/hot); thin Qi belongs to Yin within Yang (e.g., pungent/sweet/bland neutral/cool/cold). Light and clear forms originate from Heaven and tend upward; heavy and turbid forms originate from Earth and tend downward. Thus, Pungent and Sweet disperse and belong to Yang; Sour and Bitter induce vomiting and purging and belong to Yin. Below each drug entry, Dongyuan’s (Li Dongyuan) method is applied to analyze Yin-Yang to distinguish principles of Ascending, Descending, Floating, and Sinking.

Medicinal analogies state: "Wind rises and generates; Heat floats and grows; Dampness transforms and matures; Dryness descends and harvests; Cold sinks and stores." These five illustrate how Five Elements receive Five Qi. Thus, generation relies on Qi, and completion relies on Flavor. Odd generation leads to even completion; even generation leads to odd completion. Cold Qi is firm, so its flavor treats Heat/Fire; Heat Qi [softens], so its flavor treats Firmness; Wind Qi disperses, so its flavor treats Contraction; Dryness Qi contracts, so its flavor treats Dispersion. Earth is generated by Harmonious Qi, which harmonizes all, so its flavor treats Relaxation. Firm Qi strengthens, so Bitter nourishes Qi/Meridians; Soft/Harmonious Qi balances, so Salty nourishes Meridians/Bones; Contractive Qi solidifies, so Sour nourishes Bones; Dispersive Qi prevents spasms, so Pungent nourishes Muscles/Tendons; Relaxed Qi prevents stagnation, so Sweet nourishes Flesh. One must firm before softening, contract before dispersing. To relax, use Sweet; otherwise, do not use. Overuse causes disease. Below each entry, Growth/Flourishing/Harvest/Storage and Flavor/Qi thickness are detailed to clarify the generation by Five Elements and Five Qi.

The Human section in old editions lacked illustrations because drawings are primarily for ease of identification. Since human-related substances are generally known, no illustrations are provided.

Items like Tianmingjing and Disong, Fanlou and Jichangcao, though named differently, are the same substance. They are merged and listed under the excluded/merged category.

Geographical origins often cite Tang/Song place names. Changing them to contemporary county names might cause chronological confusion and difficulty in verification. Therefore, common historical names are retained and appended to the end of the volume.