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The sages said: "Every grass and tree has its own principles, which must not be neglected. Is the study of the principles of things (physical laws) not significant?" The rudimentary aspects involve correct naming and distinguishing authenticity, while the therapeutic effects can save lives from danger and death. Yanzi's statement that a good physician is comparable to a good statesman is justified, as both contribute to harmonizing and regulating the body or state in similar ways. Those who study this discipline should take the *Bencao* (Materia Medica) as essential, and subsequently peruse various other books. However, the *Bencao* is not easy to read; why? Because the variety of substances is vast.

I have long cherished an interest in this field with sincere aspiration, yet there are few people in our country who master it proficiently. Moreover, residing in a remote area, during my spare time after agricultural work, I enjoy investigating the principles of things, am adept at reading the *Bencao*, and extensively search and inquire, gaining considerable knowledge of herbs and trees. Recently, while staying in the Central Plains, I discussed and consulted with them, discerning right from wrong and resolving doubts. The number of substances verified to be authentic through evaluation is too numerous to record individually; thus, one could say I found suitable companions. Observing their compiled works on processing... [Text fragment] ...the vain debates of no use in the world, and ornate embellishments... Let all readers observe.

Written by Bei Yuan Aixun, a humble scholar from Chikuzen Province, on the Dragon Boat Festival of the Jisi year of Genroku.

Rule 1: Medicinal materials recorded in ancient and modern *Bencao* amount to nearly two thousand kinds. A skilled practitioner should benefit from knowing as many as possible. This book cannot exhaustively list them all; instead, it selects... [Text fragment] ...medical formulas. I do not necessarily... [Text fragment].

Rule 2: The difficulty in identifying substances lies in the ambiguity of their names. Names are ambiguous because terms differ across the Five Regions, and language varies between ancient and modern times. Therefore, mistaking reality due to name confusion is rare. Hearing authentic accounts, for instance, regarding the white sheep fresh herb called 'sheep'... [Text fragment] ...not recorded, only those where transmission errors occurred, or market vendors who decorate fakes... [Text fragment].

Rule 3: Regarding contraindications and mutual inhibition (Wèi Jì Zhì Shǐ), these are natural properties of substances. They cannot be determined by subjective speculation but must be verified through various *Bencao* texts and incorporated based on hearsay, so that they may be observed and followed.

Rule 4: The order does not strictly follow the *Bencao*. It has been slightly adjusted according to current observations. Items not yet confirmed remain unchanged.

Rule 5: The *Bencao* concerns human life; therefore, learners must strive for accuracy, unlike other books where mere theoretical plausibility suffices. Often encountering superficiality in ancient and modern nomenclature, I sigh inwardly! Thus... [Text fragment] ...moving freely, climbing up and down, penetrating deep into mountains... [Text fragment] ...growing in distant lands, places beyond my reach, I must... [Text fragment] ...their locations. Presuming not to overestimate myself, I widely collected information from various books and local informants, applying my own judgment to compile... [Text fragment] ...flowers, fruits, treasures, and strange objects, all recorded, along with regional dialects, hoping that names will match realities without error, and... [Text fragment] ...awaiting re-engraving for publication.

Recorded by Dao Mou on the first day of the second month, Jisi year of Genroku.