者，署为今注；考文记而述之者，又为今按。义既刊定，理亦详明。今以新旧药合九百八十
三种，并目录二十一卷，广颁天下，传而行焉。
《嘉 补注本草》 时珍曰∶宋仁宗嘉 二年，诏光禄卿直秘阁掌禹锡、尚书祠部郎
中秘阁校理林亿等，同诸医官重修本草。新补八十二种，新定一十七种，通计一千八十二
条，谓之《嘉 补注本草》，共二十卷。其书虽有校修，无大发明。其序略云∶《神农本草
经》三卷，药止三百六十五种。至陶隐居又进《名医别录》，亦三百六十五种，因而注释，
分为七卷。唐苏恭等又增一百一十四种，广为二十卷，谓之《唐本草》。国朝开宝中，两诏
医工刘翰、道士马志等修，增一百三十三种，为《开宝本草》。伪蜀孟昶，亦尝命其学士韩
保升等稍有增广，谓之《蜀本草》。嘉 二年八月，诏臣禹锡、臣亿等再加校正。臣等被命
，遂更研核。窃谓前世医工，原诊用药，随效辄记，遂至增多。概见诸书，浩博难究；虽屡
加删定，而去取非一。或《本经》已载，而所述粗略；或俚俗常用，而太医未闻。向非因事
详着，则遗散多矣。乃请因其疏捂，更为补注。应诸家医书、药谱所载物品功用，并从采掇
；惟名近迂僻，类乎怪诞，则所不取。自余经史百家，虽非方饵之急，其间或有参说药验较
然可据者，亦兼收载，务从该洽，以副诏意。凡名本草者非一家，今以开宝重定本为正。其
分布卷类，经注杂糅，间以朱墨，并从旧例，不复厘改。凡补注并据诸书所说，其意义与
旧文相参者，则从删削，以避重复；其旧已着见而意有未完，后书复言，亦具存之，欲详
而易晓。仍每条并以朱书其端云∶臣等谨按∶某书云某事。其别立条者，则解于其末，云
见某书。凡所引书，唐、蜀二本草为先，他书则以所着先后为次第。凡书旧名本草者，今
所引用，但着其所作人名曰某人，惟唐、蜀本，则曰唐本云、蜀本云。凡字朱墨之别∶所谓
《神农本经》者，以朱字；名医因神农旧条而有增补者，以墨字间于朱字；余所增者，皆别
立条，并以墨字。凡陶隐居所进者，谓之《名医别录》，并以其注附于末；凡显庆所增者，
亦注其末，曰《唐本》先附；凡《开宝》所增者，亦注其末，曰今附；凡今所增补，旧经未
有，于逐条后开列，云新补。凡药旧分上、中、下三品，今之新补难于详辨，但以类附见，
如绿矾次于矾石，山姜花次于豆蔻， 次于水杨之类是也。凡药有功用，《本经》未见，
而旧注已曾引注，今之所增，但涉相类，更不立条，并附本注之末，曰续注，如地衣附于垣
衣，燕覆附于通草，马藻附于海藻之类是也。凡旧注出于陶氏者，曰陶隐居云；出于显庆者，
曰《唐本》注；出于《开宝》者，曰今注。其开宝考据传记者，别曰今按、今详、又按。皆
以朱字别书于其端。凡药名《本经》已见，而功用未备，今有所益者，亦附于本注之末。凡
药有今世已尝用，而诸书未见，无所辨证者，如胡芦巴、海带之类，则请从太医众论参议，
别立为条，曰新定。旧药九百八十三种，新补八十二种，附于注者不预焉。新定一十七种，
总新旧一千八十二条，皆随类附着之。英公、陶氏、开宝三序，皆有义例，所不可去，仍载
于首卷云。
《图经本草》 时珍曰∶宋仁宗既命掌禹锡等编绎本草，累年成书；又诏天下郡县，
图上所产药物，用唐永徽故事，专命太常博士苏颂撰述成此书，凡二十一卷。考证详明，
颇有发挥。但图与说异，两不相应。或有图无说，或有物失图，或说是图非。如江州菝
乃仙遗粮，滁州青木香乃兜铃根，俱混列图；棠球子即赤瓜木，天花粉即栝蒌根，乃重出
条之类，亦其小小疏漏耳。颂，字子容，同安人，举进士，哲宗朝位至丞相，封魏国公
《证类本草》 时珍曰∶宋徽宗大观二年，蜀医唐慎微取《嘉 补注本草》及《图经
本草》合为一书，复拾《唐本草》、《陈藏器本草》、孟诜《食疗本草》旧本所遗者五百余
种，附入各部，并增五种。仍采《雷公炮炙》及《唐本》、《食疗》、陈藏器诸说收未尽者，
附于各条之后。又采古今单方，并经、史、百家之书有关药物者，亦附之。共三十一卷，
名《证类本草》。上之朝廷，改名《大观本草》。慎微貌寝陋而学该博，使诸家本草及各药
单方，垂之千古，不致沦没者，皆其功也。政和中，复命医官曹孝忠校正刊行，故又谓之
《政和本草》。
《本草别说》 时珍曰∶宋哲宗元 中，阆中医士陈承合《本草》及《图
一，间缀数语，谓之别说。高宗绍兴末，命医官王继先等校正本草，亦有所附。皆浅俚，
无高论。
《日华诸家本草》 禹锡曰∶国初开宝中，四明人撰。不着姓氏，但云日华子、大明
。序集诸家本草近世所用药，各以寒、温、性、味、华、实、虫、兽为类，其言功用甚悉
，凡二十卷。时珍曰∶按《千家姓》，大姓出东莱。日华子，盖姓大名明也。或云其姓田，
未审然否。
《本草衍义》 时珍曰∶宋政和中，医官通直郎寇宗 撰。以《补注》及《图经》二
书，参考事实，核其情理，援引辨证，发明良多，东垣、丹溪诸公亦尊信之；但以兰花为
兰草，卷丹为百合，是其误也。书及序例凡二十卷。平阳张魏卿以其说分附各药之下，合
为一书。
《洁古珍珠囊》 时珍曰∶书凡一卷，金易州明医张元素所着。元素，字洁古，举进
士不第，去学医，深阐轩、岐秘奥，参悟天人幽微。言古方新病不相能，自成家法。辨药
性之气味、阴、阳、浓、薄、升、降、浮、沉、补、泻、六气、十二经，及随证用药之法
，立为主治、秘诀、心法、要旨，谓之《珍珠囊》，大扬医理，《灵》《素》之下，一人而
已。后人翻为韵语，以便记诵，谓之东垣《珍珠囊》，谬矣。惜乎止论百品，未及遍评。又
着《病机气宜保命集》四卷，一名《活法机要》。后人误作河间刘完素所着，伪撰序文词调
于卷首以
《用药法象》 时珍曰∶书凡一卷，元真定明医李杲所着。杲，字明之，号东垣。通
《春秋》、《书》、《易》，忠信有守，富而好施，援例为济源监税官。受业于洁
其学，益加阐发，人称神医。祖《洁古珍珠囊》，增以用药凡例，诸经向导，纲要活法，着
为此书。谓世人惑于内伤外感，混同施治，乃辨其脉证，元气阴火，饮食劳倦，有余不足，
着《
，着《医学发明》九卷，《兰室秘藏》五卷。辨析经络脉法，分比伤寒六经之则，着《此事
难知》二卷。别有痈疽、眼目诸
《汤液本草》 时珍曰∶书凡二卷，元医学教授古赵王好古撰。好古，字进之，号海
藏，东垣高弟，医之儒者也。取本草及张仲景、成无己、张洁古、李东垣之书，间附己意，
集而为此。别着《汤液大法》四卷，《医垒元戎》十卷，《阴证略例》、《 论萃英》、《钱氏
补遗》各一卷。
《日用本草》 时珍曰∶书凡八卷。元海宁医士吴瑞，取本草之切于饮食者，分为八
门，间增数品而已。瑞，字瑞卿，元文宗时人。
《本草歌括》 时珍曰∶元瑞州路医学教授胡仕可，取本草药性图形作歌，以便童蒙
者。我明刘纯、熊宗立、傅滋辈，皆有歌括及药性赋，以授初学记诵。
《本草衍义补遗》 时珍曰∶元末朱震亨所着。震亨，义乌人，字彦修，从许白云讲
道，世称丹溪先生。尝从罗太无学医，遂得刘、张、李三家之旨而推展之，为医家宗主。
此书盖因寇氏《衍义》之义而推衍之，近二百种，多所发明；但兰草之为兰花，胡粉之为
锡粉，未免泥于旧说，而以诸药分发五行，失之牵强耳。所着有《格致余论》、《局方发挥》、
《伤寒辨疑》、《外科精要新论》、《风木问答》诸书。
《本草发挥》 时珍曰∶书凡三卷，洪武时丹溪弟子山阴徐彦纯用诚所集。取张洁古、
李东垣、王海藏、朱丹溪、成无己数家之说，合成一书尔，别无增益。
《救荒本草》 时珍曰∶洪武初，周定王因念旱涝民饥，咨访野老田夫，得草木之根苗
花实可备荒者四百四十种，图其形状，着其出产、苗叶、花子、性味、食法。凡四卷，亦颇
详明可据。近人翻刻，削其大半，虽其见浅，亦书之一厄也。王号诚斋，性质聪敏，集《普
济方》一百六十八卷，《袖珍方》四卷，诗、文、乐府等书。嘉靖中，高邮王磐着《野菜谱》
一卷，绘形缀语，以告救荒，略而不详。
《庚辛玉册》 时珍曰∶宣德中，宁献王取崔 《外丹本草》、土宿真君《造化指南》
、独孤滔《丹房镜源》、轩辕述《宝藏论》、青霞子《丹台录》诸书所载金石草木可备丹炉
者，以成此书。分为金石部、灵苗部、灵植部、羽毛部、鳞甲部、饮馔部、鼎器部，通计
二卷，凡五百四十一品。所说出产形状，分别阴阳，亦可考据焉。王号 仙，该通百家，
所着医、卜、农、圃、琴、棋、仙学、诗家诸书，凡数百卷。《造化指南》三十三篇，载
灵草五十三种，云是土宿昆元真君所说。抱朴子注解，盖亦宋、元时方士假托者尔。古有
《太清草木方》、《太清服食经》、《太清丹药录》、《黄白秘法》、《三十六水法》、《伏制草石
论》诸书，皆此类也。
《本草集要》 时珍曰∶弘治中，礼部郎中慈溪王纶，取本草常用药品，及洁古、东
垣、丹溪所论序例，略节为八卷，别无增益，斤斤泥古者也。纶，字汝言，号节斋，举进
士，仕至都御史。
《食物本草》 时珍曰∶正德时，九江知府江陵汪颖撰。东阳卢和，字廉夫，尝取本
草之系于食品者编次此书。颖得其稿，厘为二卷，分为水、谷、菜、果、禽、兽、鱼、味
八类云。
《食鉴本草》 时珍曰∶嘉靖时，京口宁原所编。取可食之物，略载数语，无所发明。
《本草会编》 时珍曰∶嘉靖中，祁门医士汪机所编。机，字省之。惩王氏《本草集要》，
不收草木形状，乃削去本草上、中、下三品，以类相从，菜谷通为草部，果品通为木部，并
诸家序例共二十卷。其书撮约似乎简便，而混同反难检阅。冠之以荠，识陋可知；掩去诸家，
更觉零碎。臆度疑似，殊无实见，仅有数条自得可取尔。
《本草蒙筌》 时珍曰∶书凡十二卷，祁门医士陈嘉谟撰。谟，字廷采。嘉靖末，依王
氏《集要》部次集成，每品具气味、产采、治疗、方法，创成对语，以便记诵。间附己意于
后，颇有发明。便于初学，名曰《蒙筌》，诚称其实。
《本草纲目》 明楚府奉祠、敕封文林郎、蓬溪知县，蕲州李时珍东璧撰。搜罗百氏，
访采四方。始于嘉靖壬子，终于万历戊寅，稿凡三易。分为五十二卷，列为一十六部，部各
分类，类凡六十。标名为纲，列事为目。增药三百七十四种，方八千一百六十。
(For those not detailed in previous annotations, it is signed as "Current Annotation"; for those where texts are examined and narratives are added, it is further signed as "Current Commentary." Since the principles have been established and the reasoning made clear, the new and old medicines are now combined into a total of nine hundred and eighty-three types, along with twenty-one volumes of catalogs, widely distributed throughout the world to be transmitted.
*Jia You Bu Zhu Ben Cao* (Supplementary Annotations to the Materia Medica of the Jia You Era) Li Shizhen said: In the second year of the Jia You era of Emperor Renzong of Song, an edict was issued ordering Zhang Yuxi, Guanglu Qing and Direct Secretary Pavilion official, Lin Yi, Shangshu Cibu Langzhong and Secretariat Pavilion Scholar, along with various medical officials, to revise the Materia Medica. Eighty-two new types were added, seventeen newly determined, totaling one thousand and eighty-two entries, called *Jia You Bu Zhu Ben Cao*, in twenty volumes. Although this book underwent revision and correction, it lacked major innovations. Its preface roughly states: *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), three volumes, contains only three hundred and sixty-five medicinal substances. Later, Tao Hongjing presented *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians), also containing three hundred and sixty-five types, which he annotated and divided into seven volumes. In the Tang Dynasty, Su Gong and others added one hundred and fourteen types, expanding it to twenty volumes, called *Tang Bencao* (Tang Materia Medica). During the Kaibao era of our dynasty, two edicts ordered medical officials Liu Han and Daoist Ma Zhi to compile it, adding one hundred and thirty-three types, resulting in *Kaibao Bencao*. Meng Chang of the Former Shu regime also ordered his scholar Han Baosheng to make slight additions, called *Shu Bencao*. In August of the second year of Jia You, an edict ordered ministers Yuxi and Yi to further correct it. We accepted the mandate and conducted further research. We privately believe that medical practitioners of past dynasties recorded treatments as they proved effective, leading to an increase in numbers. Reviewing various books, the content is vast and difficult to exhaust; although repeatedly edited, the criteria for selection varied. Some items listed in *Bencao Jing* were described briefly; some commonly used by the folk were unknown to imperial physicians. Unless detailed records were made based on specific cases, many would have been lost. Thus, we requested to supplement and annotate based on their omissions. Functions of substances recorded in various medical books and pharmacopoeias were collected; however, names that were obscure or bizarre were excluded. Other historical and philosophical texts, though not urgent for prescriptions, were included if they provided verifiable evidence of efficacy, aiming for comprehensiveness to fulfill the imperial decree. Among various works titled *Bencao*, the revised *Kaibao* edition is taken as the standard. The division into volumes and categories, mixing original text and annotations, occasionally distinguished by red and black ink, follows the old example without reorganization. All supplementary annotations are based on other books; if meanings overlap with the original text, they are deleted to avoid repetition; if the original text is incomplete and later books add details, both are preserved for clarity. Each entry begins with red text stating: "We respectfully note: Book X says..." For separate entries, explanations are placed at the end, citing the source. Citations prioritize *Tang Bencao* and *Shu Bencao*; others are ordered chronologically. For ancient *Bencao* titles, only the author's name is cited, except for Tang and Shu editions, cited as "Tang Bencao says" or "Shu Bencao says." Regarding ink colors: Content from *Shennong Bencao Jing* is in red; supplements by famous physicians to Shennong's original entries are in black interspersed with red; all other additions are separate entries in black. Tao Hongjing's contributions, called *Mingyi Bielu*, and his notes are attached at the end; additions from the Xianqing era are noted at the end as "Tang Bencao previously attached"; additions from *Kaibao* are noted as "Current attachment"; current new supplements, absent from ancient classics, are listed after each entry as "Newly Added." Old classifications into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades are difficult to apply strictly to new additions, so they are attached by category, e.g., Green Alum follows Alum Stone, Ginger Flower follows Cardamom. If a substance has functions not in *Bencao Jing* but mentioned in old notes, and current additions are similar, no new entry is made; instead, it is appended as "Continued Note," e.g., Lichen attached to Wall Moss. Notes from Tao are cited as "Tao Hongjing says"; from Xianqing as "Tang Bencao Note"; from *Kaibao* as "Current Note." Corrections from *Kaibao* are marked "Current Commentary." Names present in *Bencao Jing* but lacking complete functions are supplemented at the end of the original note. Substances used in modern times but unrecorded in books, such as *Fenugreek* (*Trigonellae Semen*) and *Kelp* (*Laminariae Thallus*), are discussed by imperial physicians and listed as "Newly Determined." There are 983 old drugs, 82 newly added (excluding those merely annotated), and 17 newly determined, totaling 1,082 entries, categorized accordingly. Prefaces by Ying Gong, Tao, and *Kaibao* contain essential principles and are retained in the first volume.
*Tujing Bencao* (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: After Emperor Renzong commissioned Zhang Yuxi et al. to compile the Materia Medica over several years, he ordered all prefectures and counties to submit illustrations of local medicinal products, following the Yonghui era precedent. Taichang Boshi Su Song was appointed to write this work, comprising twenty-one volumes. The textual research is detailed and insightful, though the illustrations sometimes contradict the descriptions. Cases include images without text, missing images for described items, or mismatched descriptions. For instance, *Smilax* from Jiangzhou is confused with *Xian Yi Liang*; *Aucklandia* from Chuzhou is mixed with *Datura* root. *Tang Qiu Zi* is identical to *Chi Gua Mu*; *Tian Hua Fen* is identical to *Trichosanthes Root*. These are minor errors. Su Song, courtesy name Zirong, from Tong'an, passed the imperial examination, reached the rank of Chancellor under Emperor Zhezong, and was ennobled as Duke of Wei.
*Zhenglei Bencao* (Classified Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: In the second year of the Daguang era of Emperor Huizong of Song, Tang Shenwei from Sichuan combined *Jia You Bu Zhu Bencao* and *Tujing Bencao* into one book. He retrieved over five hundred omitted items from *Tang Bencao*, *Chen Cangqi Bencao*, and Meng Xin's *Shiliao Bencao* (Dietary Materia Medica), adding them to respective sections, plus five new ones. He also incorporated uncaptured theories from *Leigong Paozhi* (Leigong's Processing), *Tang Bencao*, *Shiliao*, and Chen Cangqi, appending them to relevant entries. Ancient single prescriptions and references from classics, histories, and diverse schools regarding medicinal substances were also included. The work comprises thirty-one volumes, named *Zhenglei Bencao*. Presented to the court, it was renamed *Daguang Bencao*. Tang Shenwei, though plain-looking, was erudite. His功 (merit) lies in preserving various *Bencao* works and prescriptions from oblivion. During the Zhenghe era, medical official Cao Xiaozhong corrected and published it, hence also known as *Zhenghe Bencao*.
*Bencao Bieshuo* (Additional Remarks on Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: During the Yuanyou era of Emperor Zhezong of Song, Chen Cheng, a medical practitioner from Langzhong, combined *Bencao* and *Tujing*, adding brief remarks, calling it *Bieshuo*. At the end of the Shaoxing era of Emperor Gaozong, medical officials Wang Jixian et al. corrected the Materia Medica with further additions. The content is shallow and lacks profound insights.
*Rihua Zhujia Bencao* (Various Families' Materia Medica of Rihua) Zhang Yuxi said: Compiled in the early Kaibao era by an author from Siming. The author's name is unknown, referred to only as Rihua Zi or Daming. The preface collects recent medicinal uses from various families, categorizing them by cold/heat nature, flavor, flower/fruit, insect/beast, etc., detailing functions extensively across twenty volumes. Li Shizhen commented: According to *Qianjia Xing*, prominent surnames originate from Donglai. "Rihua Zi" likely refers to someone surnamed Da, given the name Ming. Others claim he surnamed Tian, but this is uncertain.
*Bencao Yanyi* (Extended Meanings of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: Written by Kou Zongshi, Medical Official Tongzhilang, during the Zhenghe era of Song. Referencing *Bu Zhu* and *Tujing*, he verified facts and logic, citing evidence for clarification, offering many insights. Figures like Dongyuan and Danxi respected it; however, he mistakenly identified *Orchid* (*Lan Hua*) as *Agastache* (*Lan Cao*) and *Lilium lancifolium* (*Juan Dan*) as *Lily Bulb* (*Bai He*). The book and its preface comprise twenty volumes. Zhang Weiqing of Pingyang appended Kou's comments to each herb, compiling a single work.
*Jiegu Zhenzhu Nang* (Jiegu's Pearl Purse) Li Shizhen said: A one-volume work by Zhang Yuansu, a renowned physician from Yizhou during the Jin Dynasty. Zhang, courtesy name Jiegu, failed the imperial exams and turned to medicine. He deeply elucidated the mysteries of Huangdi and Qibo, understanding the subtle interactions between heaven and humanity. He argued that ancient formulas were unsuitable for new diseases, establishing his own school. He analyzed drug properties (flavor, yin/yang, density, thinness, ascending/descending, floating/sinking, tonifying/draining), six qi, and twelve meridians, along with syndrome-specific prescribing methods. He established principles for main treatments, secrets, heart methods, and essentials, naming the work *Zhenzhu Nang*. It greatly promoted medical theory, being unparalleled since *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*. Later generations versified it for memorization, erroneously attributing it to Dongyuan. Regrettably, it only discusses a hundred substances. He also wrote *Bingji Qi Yi Baoming Ji* (Four Volumes), also known as *Huofa Jiyao*. Later people falsely attributed it to Liu Wansu of Hejian, forging prefaces.
*Yong Yao Fa Xiang* (Principles of Medicinal Use) Li Shizhen said: A one-volume work by Li Gao, a renowned physician from Zhending during the Yuan Dynasty. Li, courtesy name Mingzhi, pseudonym Dongyuan, mastered *Spring and Autumn Annals*, *Book of Documents*, and *I Ching*. He was loyal, trustworthy, wealthy yet charitable, serving as Tax Supervisor of Yuanjiang. Studying under Jiegu, he expanded upon his teachings, earning the title "Divine Physician." Based on *Jiegu Zhenzhu Nang*, he added general rules for medication, meridian guides, outlines, and flexible methods. He criticized the confusion between internal injury and external contraction in treatment, analyzing pulse and symptoms, yuan qi, yin fire, diet, and fatigue. He wrote *[Title Missing]*, *Yixue Faxing* (Nine Volumes), *Lanshi Micang* (Five Volumes). He differentiated meridian and pulse methods, comparing them to the Six Meridians of Cold Damage, writing *Cishi Nan Zhi* (Two Volumes). He also addressed carbuncles, sores, and eye diseases...
*Tangye Bencao* (Decoction Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: A two-volume work by Wang Haogu, Medical Professor of Gu Zhao during the Yuan Dynasty. Wang, courtesy name Jinzhi, pseudonym Haicang, was a senior disciple of Dongyuan and a scholarly physician. He compiled materials from *Bencao*, Zhang Zhongjing, Cheng Wuji, Zhang Jiegu, and Li Dongyuan, adding his own opinions. He also wrote *Tangye Dafa* (Four Volumes), *Yilei Yuanrong* (Ten Volumes), *Yin Zheng Luelie*, *[Title Missing]*, and *Qianshi Buyi* (One Volume each).
*Riyong Bencao* (Daily Use Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: An eight-volume work by Wu Rui, a medical practitioner from Haining during the Yuan Dynasty. Wu selected medicinal substances relevant to diet, dividing them into eight categories, adding only a few items. Wu, courtesy name Ruiqing, lived during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of Yuan.
*Bencao Ge Kuo* (Materia Medica Songs and Summaries) Li Shizhen said: Hu Shike, Medical Professor of Ruizhou Lu during the Yuan Dynasty, created songs based on medicinal properties and diagrams for children's learning. In our Ming Dynasty, Liu Chun, Xiong Zongli, Fu Zi, and others produced similar songs and property fu for beginners.
*Bencao Yanyi Buyi* (Supplement to Extended Meanings of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: Written by Zhu Zhenheng at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu, from Yiwu, courtesy name Yanxiu, studied Daoism with Xu Baiyun, known as Mr. Danxi. He learned medicine from Luo Taiwu, mastering the teachings of Liu, Zhang, and Li, and expanding them to become a patriarch of medicine. This book expands on Kou's *Yanyi*, covering nearly two hundred items with many insights. However, he clung to old views, identifying *Lan Cao* as *Lan Hua* and *Hu Fen* as Tin Powder, and arbitrarily assigning herbs to the Five Elements. His other works include *Gezhi Yulun*, *Jufang Fahui*, *Shanghan Bianyi*, *Waiké Jingyao Xinlun*, and *Fengmu Wenda*.
*Bencao Fahui* (Elucidation of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: A three-volume work compiled by Xu Yanchun (courtesy name Yongcheng), a disciple of Danxi from Shanyin during the Hongwu era of Ming. It combines theories from Zhang Jiegu, Li Dongyuan, Wang Haicang, Zhu Danxi, and Cheng Wuji, without additional content.
*Jiu Huang Bencao* (Materia Medica for Famine Relief) Li Shizhen said: In the early Hongwu era, Prince Ding of Zhou, concerned about famine due to droughts and floods, consulted farmers and gathered four hundred and forty edible roots, stems, flowers, and fruits. He illustrated their shapes and recorded origins, morphology, seeds, properties, flavors, and preparation methods. The four-volume work is detailed and reliable. Later reprinters cut it significantly, a tragedy despite its simple nature. The Prince, pseudonym Chengzhai, was intelligent, compiling *Puji Fang* (168 volumes), *Xiuzhen Fang* (4 volumes), and poetry/music collections. In the Jiajing era, Wang Pan of Gaoyou wrote *Ye Cai Pu* (One Volume), illustrating wild vegetables for famine relief, though briefly.
*Gengxin Yuce* (Jade Register of Gengxin) Li Shizhen said: During the Xuande era, Prince Ning of Xian compiled this from Cui Fang's *Waidan Bencao*, Tusu Zhenjun's *Zaohua Zhinan*, Dugu Tao's *Danfang Jingyuan*, Xuanyuan Shu's *Baocang Lun*, and Qingxiazi's *Dantai Lu*. It covers minerals, plants, feathers, scales, food, and vessels, totaling two volumes and 541 items. Descriptions of origins and shapes, distinguishing yin and yang, are useful for reference. The Prince, pseudonym *[Missing]*, was knowledgeable in various fields, authoring hundreds of volumes on medicine, divination, agriculture, music, chess, immortality, and poetry. *Zaohua Zhinan* has 33 chapters listing 53 spiritual herbs, attributed to Kunyuan Zhenjun. Ge Hong's annotations suggest these were likely fabrications by Daoist alchemists in Song/Yuan times. Ancient texts like *Taiqing Caomu Fang*, *Taiqing Fushi Jing*, *Taiqing Danshen Lu*, *Huangbai Mifa*, *Sanshiliu Shui Fa*, and *Fuzhi Caoshi Lun* belong to this category.
*Bencao Jiyao* (Essentials of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: During the Hongzhi era, Wang Lun, Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites from Cixi, condensed common medicinal substances and prefaces from Jiegu, Dongyuan, and Danxi into eight volumes. He rigidly adhered to ancient models without addition. Wang, courtesy name Yuyan, pseudonym Jiezhai, passed the exam and rose to Censor-in-Chief.
*Shiwu Bencao* (Food Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: Written by Wang Ying, Prefect of Jiujiang during the Zhengde era. Lu He from Dongyang, courtesy name Lianfu, originally compiled food-related herbs. Wang Ying obtained the draft, organized it into two volumes, classifying them into water, grains, vegetables, fruits, poultry, beasts, fish, and flavors.
*Shijian Bencao* (Food Mirror Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: Compiled by Ning Yuan from Jingkou during the Jiajing era. It briefly describes edible items without significant insights.
*Bencao Huibian* (Compilation of Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: Compiled by Wang Ji, a physician from Qimen during the Jiajing era. Wang, courtesy name Shengzhi, criticized Wang Lun's *Jiyao* for omitting plant shapes. He removed the Upper/Middle/Lower classification, grouping vegetables/grains under Herbs and fruits/nuts under Trees, along with various prefaces, totaling twenty volumes. While concise, the mixed categories make lookup difficult. Starting with Shepherd's Purse reveals limited insight; hiding sources makes it fragmented. Speculative and lacking substantial observation, only a few entries are valuable.
*Bencao Mengquan* (Beginner's Guide to Materia Medica) Li Shizhen said: A twelve-volume work by Chen Jiamo, a physician from Qimen. Chen, courtesy name Tingcai, compiled this at the end of the Jiajing era based on Wang's *Jiyao*. Each entry includes properties, origin, harvest, treatment, and methods, using couplets for memorization. He added personal insights, offering innovations. Suitable for beginners, the title *Mengquan* is apt.
*Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) Written by Li Shizhen, Dongbi, of Qizhou, County Magistrate of Pengxi, and Imperial Tutor to the Chu Prince, Ming Dynasty. He researched widely and traveled extensively. Started in the Renzi year of Jiajing, completed in the Wuyin year of Wanli, with three drafts. Divided into fifty-two volumes, sixteen parts, sixty categories. Titles serve as the outline (Gang), details as the mesh (Mu). Added 374 substances and 8,160 prescriptions.