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Written by Kou Zongshi, a Tongzhilang (Assistant Official) of the Imperial Medical Bureau during the Zhenghe era of the Song Dynasty, who was responsible for inspecting medicinal materials at the Office for Purchasing Medicinal Herbs. It is recorded in Chao Gongwu's *Dushu Zhi* (Record of Reading Books) and Chen Zhizhai's *Shulu Jieti* (Explanatory Notes on Book Records). In the sixth year of Zhenghe, Liu Yafu, who was in charge of the Changping Affairs in Jinghu North Circuit, submitted a report to Li Kang, Doctor of the Imperial Medical College under the Department of State Affairs. An imperial decree ordered Kou Zongshi to be promoted by one rank and appointed as an additional official for inspecting medicinal materials at the Office for Purchasing Medicinal Herbs. In the first year of Xuanhe, his nephew, Kou Yue, a Jiaoyi Lang (Official of Instruction) and Vice Magistrate of Jie County in Jiezhou, had it carved and printed. Kou Zongshi's native place is unknown. Based on official dispatches and entries such as "Fushi Shi" (Stone from the East Wall), "Juhua Shui" (Chrysanthemum Water) in Volume 6, and "Sangjisheng" (Taxillus/Sandalwood Parasite) in Volume 13, it can be inferred that he served in Hangzhou, Yongyao, and Shun'an Jun, having risen from Chengzhilang (Assistant Official) and Household Administrator of Lizhou to a higher rank through the presentation of books. Kou Zongshi believed that the *Bencao* revised by Zhang Yuxi and continued by Tang Shenwei still contained errors. Therefore, he consulted various sources, verified them with his own observations, corrected mistakes, filled omissions, cited evidence for differentiation, and elucidated many points. Any items whose names existed but were unused and whose meanings were exhausted were not included. His verifications, such as explaining that Fushi Shi derives its potency from the vigorous heat of the Sun and Shaohuo (Lesser Fire), Donghui (Winter Ash) from the long duration of burning in winter, that water does not become fragrant due to chrysanthemum, that moles cannot urinate to give birth, that Yuquan (Jade Spring) is a misnomer for Yujang (Jade Nectar), and that Shizhong Huangzi (Yellow Child in Stone) is a mistake for Huangshui (Yellow Water), all adhere to facts and provide solid proof. He is indeed a meritorious contributor to the *Bencao* and a ferry across the medical forest. Scholars like Li Dongyuan and Zhu Danxi respected and trusted him; thus, Zhu Danxi wrote *Yanyi Buyi* (Supplemental Remedy to the Extended Meaning), although he made minor errors by identifying Lan Hua (Orchid) as Lancao (Agastache) and Juandan (Lilium lancifolium) as Baihe (Lily bulb). During the Song Dynasty, this work circulated separately from the *Zhenglei Bencao*. Since the Jin dynasty scholar Zhang Cunhui incorporated it into the *Zhenglei Bencao*, subsequent Jin and Yuan editions followed suit, causing the separate edition to nearly vanish. Lu Xinyuan of Gui'an possessed a complete Southern Song Masha edition and decided to publish it to facilitate its widespread dissemination.

*Bencao Yan yi* (Extended Meanings of Materia Medica), twenty volumes, written by Kou Zongshi, a Song Dynasty Tongzhilang appointed as an additional official for inspecting medicinal materials at the Office for Purchasing Medicinal Herbs. It is recorded in Chao Gongwu's *Dushu Zhi* and Chen Zhizhai's *Shulu Jieti*. In the sixth year of Zhenghe, Liu Yafu, supervisor of Changping affairs in Jinghu North Circuit, submitted a review report to Li Kang, Doctor of the Imperial Medical College under the Department of State Affairs. An imperial decree promoted Kou Zongshi by one rank and appointed him to inspect medicinal materials at the Office for Purchasing Medicinal Herbs. In the first year of Xuanhe, his nephew Kou Yue, a Jiaoyi Lang and Vice Magistrate of Jie County in Jiezhou, had it carved and printed. Kou Zongshi's origin is unrecorded. Inferring from official documents and entries like "Fushi Shi," "Juhua Shui" in Vol. 6, and "Sangjisheng" in Vol. 13, he served in Hangzhou, Yongyao, and Shun'an Jun, rising from Chengzhilang and Household Administrator of Lizhou via book presentation. The name *Shennong Bencao* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) first appeared in the Liang Dynasty's *Qilu* (Seven Records), comprising 365 species. Tao Hongjing added another 365 species, forming the *Mingyi Biegu lu* (Separate Record of Famous Physicians). In the Xianqing era of the Tang Dynasty, Su Gong and others were ordered to review gains and losses, adding 114 species, resulting in the *Tang Bencao* (Tang Materia Medica). Emperor Taizu of Song ordered Liu Han and others to add 133 species commonly used effectively by physicians, creating the *Kaibao Chongding Bencao* (Kaibao Revised Materia Medica). Emperor Renzong ordered Zhang Yuxi and others to correct and add 100 species, producing the *Jiayou Buchu Bencao* (Jiayou Supplemental Materia Medica). Tang Shenwei of Shu collected extensively from various books, adding over 600 species, resulting in the *Jingshi Zhenglei Bencao* (Classified Materia Medica Verified by Classics and History). Emperor Huizong ordered Cao Xiaozhong to edit it, leading to the *Zhenghe Chongxiu Jingshi Zhenglei Beiyong Bencao* (Zhenghe Revised Classified Materia Medica for Emergency Use). Kou Zongshi found errors in the works revised by Zhang Yuxi and continued by Tang Shenwei, so he investigated various sources, combined them with personal observation, corrected errors, and authored this book. Items with names but no usage and exhausted meanings were excluded. His verifications, such as the potency of Fushi Shi from solar heat, Donghui from prolonged winter burning, water not becoming fragrant with chrysanthemum, moles not urinating to birth, Yuquan being a corruption of Yujang, and Shizhong Huangzi being a mistake for Huangshui, all adhered to facts and provided clear proofs, making him a true merit-maker for the *Bencao* and a guide for the medical community. During the Song Dynasty, it circulated separately from the *Zhenglei Bencao*. After Zhang Cunhui of the Jin Dynasty attached it to the *Zhenglei Bencao*, Ming scholars followed suit, causing the separate edition to decline. I possess a complete Southern Song Masha edition and have reprinted it to spread its transmission.
Written by Lu Xinyuan of Gui'an in the mid-winter month of the year Qiangyu Chifenruo (Guangxu Year 3).