Library

Heaven and Earth generate humans with their spiritual energy (Lingqi), and generate all things with their residual energy. Countless beings fill the space between Heaven and Earth. However, humans are originally meant to save others and rescue all things through their own efforts; it is unheard of for humans to wait for rescue from all things. If there were such a case, it would be the superior, middle, and inferior medicinal substances listed in Bencao (Compendium of Materia Medica). Their scope is vast, like water and fire; their subtlety is minute, like Qi and fluids; those precious include gold, jade, Renshen (Ginseng), and Shicao (Rhizoma et Radix Notoginseni); those humble include earth, stone, Pucao (Cattail pollen), and Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba); common ones include Shu (Broomcorn millet), Ji (Common millet), and various animals and plants; exotic ones include minute entities like Ju duo and Fu, as well as mysterious and strange items like Fenyang and Lingyang. Some are used according to their nature, some against their nature. If applied appropriately, reviving the dead and rescuing the fallen is as easy as turning over one's hand. I once read this and sighed: The Way of Ren (Benevolence) is truly great. Observing these contents allows one to understand more than half of it. Heaven and Earth certainly do not create useless things. Nevertheless, sages achieve the use appropriate for sages, worthies achieve the use appropriate for worthies, while those of medium or low capacity only achieve uses corresponding to their level. Zhuangzi said, "Only when considered useless can something become of great use." Su Dongpo also asked what medicine the Great Physician Wang used, and the answer was still the ordinary medicines used by craftsmen. The value and utility of things have long-standing origins. This book began in the era of Yan and Huang. Later figures such as Tao Hongjing, Su Gong, Li Xun, Hu Meng, Han Baosheng, and Tang Shenwei all contributed to its editing, revision, and supplementation. However, the volumes are numerous and extensive, making it difficult for scholars to quickly grasp the key points for practical application. Mr. Jiang Jiefan from Xin'an, a renowned scholar who loved learning, often devoted himself to the study of medicine. He believed that if benevolent and filial people in the world did not slight these [medicines], then Bencao should hold equal status with the Six Classics. Thus, he selected the essential parts and compiled them into a book. His eldest son, Xuezhou, was young, quick-witted, and possessed the ambition to benefit all things. He had the work printed and widely disseminated among literary circles, emulating Sima Qian and Hu Renzhong in faithfully continuing his father's will and heart. Now, observing this book, its intent is profound and its苦心 (painstaking effort) sincere. The system of Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi (Sovereign-Minister-Assistant-Courier) in odd and even combinations, and the regulation of warming, cooling, tonifying, and purging methods, are recorded very clearly. The spirituality of things is manifest. Why then do people remain listless? They possess lifelong learning aimed at benevolence, righteousness, saving those drowning, and rescuing those on fire, yet they treat it as if it were outside their skin (indifferent), instead indulging in lust and desire, shortening their lifespan and prolonging their illnesses. Forced to do so, they can only wait for rescue from indifferent minerals, metals, herbs, and plants. In their leisurely negligence, they greatly lose the original intent of Heaven and Earth earnestly generating human life. Alas, how exhausted!

Compiled by Juanlou Jushi, Ji Yingzhong.