Library

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, I was residing in Hankou. In the autumn of the 27th year (1938), I entered Guilin. The disaster caused by the Japanese invaders deepened day by day, and Wuhan fell again. With the European War yet to commence, the peril facing the nation was more precarious than a stack of eggs. Several disciples passed through Guilin, aware of my arduous living conditions, and asked about my future plans. I replied, "If the nation were unfortunately to perish, I would not emulate Tinglin (Gu Yanwu) or Chuanshan (Wang Fuzhi). Instead, I would take Mr. Qingzhu (Zhu Da/Badashanren) as my guide." In truth, calligraphy and painting have no fixed rules, nor does medicine have sectarian schools; such statements are merely for show. By the autumn of the 32nd year (1943), worldly affairs showed signs of turning for the better. Having earlier secured a position at the Chinese Farmers Bank, my basic needs for food and clothing were met. In my spare time from official duties, I compiled this book. Generally, Chinese physicians have traditionally focused less on specializing in disease identification and more on the application of medicines. The *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders) encompasses numerous diseases, yet collectively names them all "Shanghan" (Cold Damage); however, when prescribing medications, they differ significantly. "Pediatric Convulsion" (Xiao'er Jingfeng) also covers many diseases, collectively termed acute or chronic convulsions, yet the prescribed medications vary accordingly. Such examples are countless. It can be seen that although disease identification may not always be precise, medication application is generally correct. Therefore, Chinese materia medica and the empirical experience of Chinese medicinal usage are worthy of study. If one seeks to understand Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory while ignoring the functions of herbs and empirical usage experiences, instead merely discussing abstract theories of Five Elements generation and restriction, it is no wonder that TCM has declined. Thus, my compilation of this book focuses specifically on the functions of herbs and the formulas (prescription patterns) used, aiming to enable readers to grasp their essentials. If Mr. Qingzhu were alive to know this, he might smile.

Recorded by Zhang Zongxiang of Haining in the winter of the Guiwei year (1943).

1. Among herbal texts, *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) is the most comprehensive. However, Mr. Li Binhu (Li Shizhen) lived four hundred years ago. Since then, the number of medicinal substances has increased daily, and their origins have changed. For instance, *Atractylodis Rhizoma* (Cangzhu/Bai Zhu) was prized for its wild varieties from Qian, a detail Li did not fully elaborate; today, even *Bai Zhu* produced in Yuqian cannot be guaranteed, forcing reliance on supplies from Huguang. This demonstrates that due to temporal changes, the efficacy of medicinal substances varies, a fact that must be known.

2. The pills and powders recorded in *Bencao Gangmu* are too sparse. My view is that without listing specific prescriptions, one cannot prove the efficacy of a drug. For example, combining *Moschus* (Shexiang) with *Gastrodiae Rhizoma* (Tianma) removes wind-phlegm; combining it with *Realgar* (Xionghuang) treats carbuncles. This shows that the intent of using *Moschus* is solely to exploit its rapid action, whereas treating the root cause requires other herbs. Attributing the entire therapeutic credit to *Moschus* alone is incorrect.

3. The efficacy of Chinese herbs is derived from experience, and prescription methods follow certain formulas. For instance, *Coptidis Rhizoma* (Huanglian) treats dysentery; if the condition is severe, *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huangbai) is added. From this, one can deduce the bactericidal principles of these two herbs. However, TCM prescriptions are never singular; they attack the pathogen while simultaneously strengthening the body's root. Therefore, treating dysentery invariably involves using herbs that strengthen the stomach, assist the spleen, and clear heat.

4. Herbal texts traditionally define herb properties, detailing hot, warm, cold, and cool natures extensively. My view is that medication relies specifically on efficacy; the thermal nature of an herb is not directly related to curing the disease. If one strictly adheres to the theory of thermal natures, how can *Rhei Radix et Rhizoma* (Dahuang) and *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata* (Fuzi) be used together?

5. The sweet and bitter tastes of herbs are traditionally recorded in detail, but they are actually irrelevant to treating diseases. If sweetness truly harmonizes the middle jiao, then *Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata* (Shudihuang) would sometimes obstruct the stomach; if bitterness truly descends, then *Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix* (Qianghuo) could not dispel wind from the head and face. Therefore, herb tastes are omitted.

6. After the prevalence of cowpox vaccination, even remote villages could administer inoculation. What was once a severe pediatric disease can now be largely disregarded. Consequently, prescriptions for smallpox are omitted.

7. A physician who does not know the functions of various herbs but merely reads ancient books causes significant harm. Even if one knows the functions of herbs, without understanding prescription formulas, clinical diagnosis remains difficult. Therefore... [text fragment]

8. Physicians focus on syndrome differentiation. One must pay attention to the manifestation of syndromes. If deficiency is extreme, regardless of whether it presents as carbuncle, dysentery, or measles... [text fragment]

9. The purpose of this book is to provide readers with a clear path. Understanding herb functions and mastering dosages allows for flexible adjustment during practice; one should not rigidly adhere to ancient texts.

10. Mineral drugs and animal-derived substances are included sparingly. Minerals may contain impurities if extraction is imprecise; animal drugs involve killing life and can be avoided where possible. Hence, this section is particularly concise.

11. Ancient prescriptions often used the term "ju" (chewing or crushing into coarse powder). Although the term is still used today, there is no need to strictly adhere to this method.

Compiled and written by Zhang Zongxiang of Haining.