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Among medical practitioners, pediatrics is particularly difficult. This is because for those who can speak and are ill, one can inquire to understand the condition; but for those who cannot yet speak, inquiry alone cannot reveal the illness. The *Records of the Grand Historian* states that Bian Que entered Xiangyang and practiced as a pediatrician; however, his writings and words were largely not transmitted. It is said: "To know through observation is called divine; to know through listening and smelling is called sage." Was Bian Que's art indeed not dependent on books? If this statement is true, only someone like Bian Que could manage it. Yet medicine cannot exist without books. Taicang Gong (Chunyu Yi) also believed that medical practice relies on mental comprehension and was unwilling to write books. Had there always been people like Taicang Gong in the world, books might have been unnecessary; but such individuals are rare. Why? Moreover, I have heard that studying medicine is no different from studying Confucianism. Confucians seek the core principles of sages because the books of sages exist. If medicine had no books, the core principles of Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo would have long been lost and untransmitted. How then could one learn? Therefore, the vast number of medical texts rivals or even exceeds that of Confucian classics. However, among the printed works available to the public, those on adult internal medicine (Da Fang Mai) are predominant. Pediatric specialists often keep their expertise secret, passing prescriptions down father to son, enjoying benefits for generations, refusing to teach others even for ten thousand gold pieces. Would they willingly share their knowledge with the world and future generations? Mr. Zeng of Yuxi, applying Confucian scholarship to medicine, inherited the traditions of Dai and Liu. From youth to old age, the number of children he saved is countless. In diagnosing and prescribing, he consistently surpassed other physicians. He thus collected, refined, and verified what he learned from his teachers, compiling it into a volume titled *Huoyou Xinshu* (New Book for Saving Children). Upon completion, he did not keep it private but intended to make it public to the world and posterity, ensuring that practitioners would not suffer the harm of being unable to save lives due to lack of learning. Every young child holds the hope of becoming an adult; how profound is Mr. Zeng's dedication! Who does not possess such a heart? It would be excellent if everyone could adopt Mr. Zeng's mindset. Nevertheless, while books contain established doctrines, the mind must employ flexible methods. If one merely adheres rigidly to the text without skillful application, it is like a military strategist who fails to adapt, akin to gluing the bridges of a zither before tuning it. I do not see how this would work. In the past, Li Lizhi of Lin'an gained fame for his pediatric skills. An infant suddenly lost its voice and sought treatment. Li Lizhi ordered someone to lift the child high and drop them to the ground, wrapping them in a blanket. The infant, greatly startled, suddenly cried out and could speak again. When asked, he replied: "This is Ru Chu Xin (infant convulsion affecting the heart), which cannot be cured by medicine." This illustrates the principle of flexible application, so I have appended this account.

Preface by He Nichi, Zhongyi Dafu (Counselor of Moderate Rank), Former Tongzhi (Joint Director) of the Xuanweishi Office of Haibei-Hainan Circuit, and Vice Marshal, on the first day of the intercalary ninth month of the Dingmao year of Taiding.