Library

Ancient texts record: "Seeing the aura of a dragon, one knows there is an ancient sword buried; observing the auspicious qi in the sky, one can distinguish pearls." Therefore, things like *Ping Shi* (a legendary auspicious fruit) and *Shang Yang* (a legendary divine bird), cannot be thoroughly understood by anyone other than those with supreme wisdom. Since then, those renowned for their encyclopedic knowledge include Zhang Hua, those for distinguishing characters include Kang, and those for analyzing precious jade include Yi Dun, yet they are as rare as morning stars.

Li Dongbi, a gentleman from Qiyang in Chu, once visited my mountain garden, stayed for several drinks, and showed me dozens of volumes of his work, *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica). He said to me: "Shizhen, I am a humble person from Jingchu. In my youth, I suffered from frequent illnesses and was dull-witted; as I grew up, I indulged in classics and books, finding them as sweet as cane sugar syrup. Thus, I plundered various books and collected teachings from a hundred schools. Regarding the works of philosophers, historians, classics, commentaries, phonology, agriculture, horticulture, medicine, divination, astrology, and music bureaus, whenever I had any insights, I recorded a few words. In ancient times, there was a book called *Bencao*. From the times of Yan and Huang, through Han, Liang, Tang, Song, down to our dynasty, commentators were numerous and the history long. However, among them, errors, fallacies, discrepancies, misprints, and omissions are too numerous to count. Thus, I dared to stir up the ambition to compile and edit, presumptuously assuming the authority to compose and narrate. Over thirty years, I consulted over eight hundred sources, and the manuscript was revised three times. Duplicates were deleted, gaps were filled, and errors were corrected. The original edition contained 1,518 species; now I have added 374 species, divided into sixteen sections, comprising fifty-two volumes. Although not a complete synthesis, it is roughly comprehensive. I presumptuously named it *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica). I wish to beg you for a preface to entrust this work to immortality."

I opened the volume and studied it carefully. For each medicinal substance, the correct name is marked as the "Gang" (Outline/Heading), and explanatory names are attached as the "Mu" (Details/Sub-heading), thereby rectifying the beginning. Next come "Ji Jie" (Collected Explanations), "Bian Yi" (Resolving Doubts), and "Zheng Wu" (Correcting Errors), detailing local production and morphology. Then follow "Qi Wei" (Odor and Flavor), "Zhu Zhi" (Main Therapeutic Actions), and "Fu Fang" (Attached Prescriptions), elucidating its nature and application. From ancient canonical texts to legends, nothing related was left uncollected. It is like entering the Garden of Jin Gu, where colors dazzle the eye; like ascending the Palace of the Dragon King, where all treasures are displayed; like facing a jade mirror in an ice pot, where even hair strands can be counted. It is extensive yet not cumbersome, detailed yet concise, comprehensively verified, directly penetrating the depths of knowledge. Is this merely a medical book? It is truly the subtlety of nature and principle, the general canon of investigating things (*Gewu*), and a precious treasure for emperors and subjects alike. How diligent is Mr. Li in his intention to benefit others! Alas, before jade is cut, cinnabar and purple stones mix, a malpractice that has existed for a long time. Therefore, to identify the bone of a chariot-sized specimen, one must wait for a Confucian scholar from Lu; to find the stone supporting the loom (Zhi Ji Stone), one must visit a fortune teller. I am currently composing *Yanzhou Zhiyan*, lamenting the lack of successors who are as erudite as the author of *Danqian Zhiyan*. How fortunate I am to witness this collection! This collection, if hidden in a stone chamber deep in the mountains without use, why not carve it into woodblocks, so that the world and future generations may savor it as Ziyun savored the *Taixuan* (The Great Mystery)?

On the Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Day) of the spring of Gengyin year of the Wanli era, Wang Shizhen, Mountain Hermit of Yanzhou, respectfully composed.