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The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) is referred to as the *Benjing* (Classic of Materia Medica), comprising 365 substances, corresponding to the degrees of the celestial sphere. The Superior Grade consists of 125 substances serving as Sovereign drugs (Jun), which are non-toxic. Their primary function is that long-term consumption nourishes life and prolongs longevity, supplements Qi and lightens the body, leading to immortality akin to deities. The Medium Grade consists of 125 substances serving as Minister drugs (Chen), some of which are toxic and others non-toxic. Their primary function is to regulate and unblock Qi and Blood, expel pathogenic factors, and treat diseases. The Inferior Grade consists of 125 substances serving as Assistant and Envoy drugs (Zuo-Shi), some of which are toxic, some non-toxic, and some highly toxic. Their primary function is to eliminate cold and heat pathogenic factors, break up accumulations and masses (Zheng-Jia), and usage should cease once the disease is cured.

After the separation of Heaven and Earth, plants and trees began to grow. Emperor Shennong looked up to observe the Six Qi (Liu Qi) of Heaven and looked down to examine the Five Elements (Wu Xing) of Earth. The Six Qi refer to Jueyin, Shaoyin, Taiyin, Shaoyang, Yangming, and Taiyang, which constitute the Three Yin and Three Yang. The Five Elements refer to the movement of Wu Yun: Jia and Ji govern Earth, Yi and Geng govern Metal, Bing and Xin govern Water, Ding and Ren govern Wood, and Wu and Gui govern Fire; this constitutes the relationship between the Five Movements and the Five Elements. Based on the principles of Wu Yun Liu Qi (Five Movements and Six Qi), the nature of plants, trees, minerals, metals, insects, fish, birds, and beasts is distinguished and integrated with the human Zang-Fu organs (Viscera and Bowels), Twelve Meridians, and treatments involving Cold, Heat, Ascending, Descending, Tonifying, and Draining. All things in Heaven and Earth do not exceed the scope of the Five Elements. At their initial production, there are five directions: East, South, West, North, and Center. In their growth and reproduction, there are five seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Late Summer. Their forms exhibit five colors: Green, Yellow, Red, White, and Black. Their odors include five smells: Pungent, Scorched, Fragrant, Fishy, and Putrid. Their qualities possess five tastes: Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Acrid, and Salty. These are recorded as drug properties, intended to reveal the nature of things and accomplish tasks, transmitted to later generations. The language is ancient and the meaning profound, making it difficult to fathom.

Later compilers collected drug properties but failed to understand the *Benjing*. They merely stated that a certain drug treats a certain disease, or a certain disease requires a certain drug, without exploring the root cause, only discussing the therapeutic effect. This utilizes the "Use" (Yong) of the drug, not its "Nature" (Xing). Knowing the nature and using it ensures that usage has a foundation and can transform magically without limitation. Copying the use without knowing the nature results in usage lacking a foundation, leading to obstruction and difficulty in circulation. Therefore, I interpret the *Benjing* and elucidate drug properties, grounding them in the principles of Wu Yun Liu Qi, providing detailed and comprehensive explanations. This makes the words of antiquity clear as if pointing at one's palm. The principles of Yun Qi shine bright like the sun and stars, representing the Way of Investigating Things to Extend Knowledge and the Unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. Later unfounded speculations by people who chase details while forgetting the root are generally excluded. If learners can comprehend and realize this, they will be close to the learning of Emperor Shennong, who observed Heaven and Earth, exhausted principles, and thoroughly understood natures. Books from later generations containing errors and fallacies may be discarded and not discussed.