Library

This book was authored by an Immortal of the Tang Dynasty and circulated among those outside the secular world. It was passed down orally from Master Da Pao Qi Mei to Wang Fuwan, who then orally transmitted it to Ma Yuncong. Ma Yuncong consulted widely and collected extensively, deducing and elucidating its subtle mysteries. Minor ailments such as sand in the eyes or dust irritating the eyes were necessarily recorded; for maiden women and children, details were captured meticulously without omission. Those suffering from eye diseases should certainly study this book day and night; even those with healthy eyes, for the sake of preventive care against potential illness, should not be without it for a moment.

By the Half Boat Owner (Banfang Zhuren)

In my childhood, when I accompanied my elder brother Bingtao to Qingzhou for the imperial examinations, I had already heard that Ma Yuncong was well-known within the local academy circles. Forty years later, during the Dinghai year of the Great Qing, I first encountered him west of the Wei River. He was then a decrepit old man, yet we got along very well. When he recounted the reasons for his downfall, I learned that he had abandoned his scholarly pursuits due to eye disease. Tracing back to the time of his illness, worldly physicians only treated the external symptoms, failing to address the root cause. After trying countless remedies, his vision was on the verge of blindness. In desperation, he devoutly prayed to the City God (Chenghuang), dreaming that the deity bestowed upon him four volumes of books. The covers were bean-green, the text written in black ink, with red circles marking the punctuation. Upon waking, he met Wang Fuwan from Jiangnan, who handed him the book exactly as seen in the dream: Sun Zhenren’s (Sun Simiao) *Secrets of Ophthalmology* (Yanke Mijue). Following the methods therein, he cured himself and others, and people have long benefited from the grace of this True Man. Now, Hualong (Ma Yuncong's courtesy name or pseudonym) is old and fears death may come at any moment, leaving this book unprinted and unknown to the world; even if he lives longer, it would only circulate locally, not throughout the empire. Thus, he vowed to publish it, but lacking sufficient resources, could not complete the task. After speaking, he sighed with emotion, unable to restrain himself. At that time, the courtyard was filled with autumn moonlight, and the crisp air was invigorating. Hearing his words, I was suddenly moved, so I contributed my savings ("inkstone gold") to help him finish the project. Ma Yuncong added that while *Secrets* has been published, *Chanwei* (Elucidation of Subtleties) has not, asking who could truly grasp its profound meaning. I searched for *Chanwei* and eventually submitted the entire work to the press. Although sages and gentlemen might compose immortal works during leisure moments like dining, amidst the hardships and difficulties of the past three to four years, I never dared to forget urging the printers morning and night. This is because I know Ma Yuncong wrote for the benefit of the world and future generations, while I commissioned the printing for him. Keeping our original agreement in mind, I hold deep admiration for this spirit. If one says that completing the book allows me to share in the merit of healing people, that was not my intention.

Preface by Sui Ping of Qufu, Kunshan, Wugu, in the Summer of Gengchen Month [May]