Library

My grandfather, Mr. Xingchu, was renowned for his erudition and elegance. Upon returning from the metropolitan examination in the south, he purchased numerous rare books of ancient and modern times from bookstores in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Besides the classics, histories, and various schools of thought, he mastered all arts related to astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, astrology, and numerology.

My father, Mr. Xiaoting, received strict family instruction from childhood, with oral teachings being particularly authentic, especially regarding the medical arts. This was because medicine is a benevolent art capable of saving people, just as Fan Zhongyan stated, "I wish to be a good physician." Subsequently, my father achieved miraculous results in treating patients and never accepted payment. Consequently, more and more people from near and far came to his door seeking prescriptions. He devoted himself entirely to the treatment of leprosy (Leprosy), extensively searching for secret manuscripts from various sources, making adjustments and additions over several years until the compilation was complete. He treated it according to Zhang Zhongjing's Six Channels (Six Stages) theory, achieving a success rate of nearly 100%. He wished to publish this work publicly but feared it might fall into unworthy hands or be used for profit, leading to distortion in later generations.

Mr. Liu Quanshi from Qianyang possessed a nature of filial piety and fraternal duty, embodying ancient virtues. He shared similar interests with my father and became a close confidant. For many years, they cross-referenced each other in astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, astrology, and numerology. In the Xin You year, my father fell seriously ill and sent a messenger to invite Mr. Quanshi from Fenyi. Upon his arrival, their discussion of past and present events seemed to alleviate my father's illness. One night, my father said to Mr. Quanshi: "The methods we have used to treat leprosy have saved hundreds of lives. I intend to publish ten thousand copies of my annotated 'Summary of Leprosy' and the two volumes of 'Essentials of Leprosy' after the provincial examination. These will be distributed at the Jiangxi provincial examination venue to candidates. Furthermore, since leprosy is prevalent in Guangdong, another ten thousand copies should be printed and distributed to candidates attending the examination there." Now that the trees on our ancestral graves have grown thick, and there are no descendants to hope for, if this task is to be accomplished, you are the only one I can entrust. Thus, he presented the two books, 'Summary' and 'Essentials,' bowing twice to hand them over. Mr. Quanshi also bowed twice to accept them. The two men held hands and wept; I also wept and recorded this event, vowing never to forget. Less than a month later, my father passed away.

Later, Mr. Quanshi rarely visited Jizhou, while my brothers and I traveled to Guangzhou with our writing brushes for nineteen years, relying on others for sustenance due to poverty, and thus failed to publish the book. This midsummer, my father's heir, Mr. Dongchang, braved the heat to visit us. He mentioned Mr. Yuan Chuntai, a licentiate from the same county, who wished to gather associates to publish this book. Hearing this, I felt both joy and shame. I am ashamed that my brothers and I merely read our father's books without fulfilling his wishes; yet I am joyful that good deeds are shared, having Mr. Quanshi and Licentiate Yuan involved. Therefore, I retrieved the original manuscript finalized by my father and handed it to Mr. Dongchang, repeating the ritual of bowing and handing over as before. When the book is eventually published and distributed nationwide, preventing leprosy and ensuring people do not suffer premature death or disaster, this will be the merit of Mr. Quanshi and Licentiate Yuan, and also the fulfillment of our grandfather's ambition. What credit do my brothers and I deserve? This is the preface.

Recorded respectfully by Xiao Guixin of Lushan Shi, Luling, on the first day of the late summer of the Geng Yin year, the tenth year of Daoguang.