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Mr. Qishi's medical skills were profound and mysterious, and in the field of consumptive disease (Xu Lao), he was a unique master. He once said: "People have different innate endowments, and thus they contract different diseases." Those who indulge their desires tend to have fewer liver and kidney diseases; those who are overly concerned with moral integrity and willpower tend to have more liver and kidney diseases. Diseases arise from the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright), causing damage to the Five Zang Organs. Mr. Qishi pitied people suffering from consumptive disease who entrusted their lives to mediocre physicians, resulting in mild conditions becoming severe and severe conditions becoming critical, which was deeply heartbreaking. Therefore, he collated thousands of books by past sages, realizing that just as the four seasons each govern a bias of Qi, they had not yet reached perfection. He then devoted himself to reading the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) and *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) of the *Huangdi Neijing*, opening the door to enlightenment, grasping the essentials, and through careful revision and annotation, compiled this book. It distinguishes symptoms and causes, details treatment methods, examines pulse diagnosis, corrects errors in herbal prescriptions, and is pure, profound, and rigorous, serving to inspire future generations after the traditions of Qibo and Huangdi (the founders of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Was his merit insignificant! Alas, he passed away shortly after completing the book. At the time of his death (changing the mat), he earnestly entrusted the responsibility of saving the world to his two elder sons and various disciples, and I also heard his final instructions. Although Mr. Qishi has passed, his Way remains in the human realm. His eldest son, Boru, could read and understand his books; his second son, Dong'an, could inherit his aspirations; his nephew Jiming, along with his disciple Shen Zi from Linwu Junbin, could widely disseminate his teachings. Thus, Mr. Qishi never truly departed. Not wanting later generations suffering from this disease to die young without rescue, he entrusted the work of a "Chancellor in the Mountains" (a metaphor for high scholarly or medical achievement) to his second son at his deathbed. Due to social upheaval, he abandoned the imperial examinations (Jiwei refers to the examination hall) and devoted himself to inheriting the family trade. The completion of this book was largely due to his elucidations and innovations. Regrettably, living through times of loss and chaos, he found no one to print it, fearing greatly that Mr. Qishi's virtue would be submerged. Thus, he hoped that benevolent gentlemen of later generations would embody Mr. Qishi's heart, publish this book on pear and jujube wood blocks (referring to woodblock printing), and spread it widely, which would be our great fortune. It would also be a great fortune for all under heaven and future generations to read this book and benefit from its grace.
Disciple Zhao Hetong Tian respectfully recorded.

A slow pulse indicates deficiency; soft (Ruo), minute (Wei), and weak (Ruo) pulses all indicate deficiency. A wiry (Xian) pulse indicates middle Jiao deficiency; a fine and minute pulse indicates both Qi and Blood deficiency; a small pulse indicates insufficient Qi and Blood. Furthermore, a knifelike (Kou) pulse indicates the depletion of Blood and Qi; a deep (Chen), small, and slow (Chi) pulse indicates the loss of Qi. (The above are all pulses associated with fatigue and exhaustion, corresponding to symptoms of deficiency timidity and latent fever.) Additionally, a minute and rapid pulse indicates deficient heat; a minute, slow, and slippery pulse indicates deficient phlegm.