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The world does not worry about the lack of medicines that correspond to diseases, but worries about the lack of physicians who can accurately diagnose diseases. If a physician who can diagnose diseases prescribes medication, then the warming, cooling, tonifying, and purgative properties of the medicines will correspond one-to-one with the cold, heat, deficiency, and excess patterns of the diseases, resulting in efficacy without exception. It is like a skilled archer drawing the bow fully and releasing; every shot hits the target. Mr. Sun Taishi (Sun Zhihong) today is indeed such a physician who can diagnose diseases. He has authored eight volumes of books. Instead of calling it *Jianming Yao Fang* (Simple and Clear Prescriptions), he calls it *Jianming Yi Gou* (Simple and Clear Medical Bow), showing considerable self-confidence.

Among medical texts, none is more detailed than *Bencao* (Materia Medica), yet readers often suffer from its vastness and difficulty to exhaust, wrongly claiming it is not simple. None is more exquisite than *Suwen* (Basic Questions), yet readers often suffer from its profundity and difficulty to understand, wrongly claiming it is not clear. Now, Mr. Sun’s compilation is both simple and clear; even if it were named the "Essence-Gathering" of *Bencao* or the "Footnotes" of *Suwen*, it would be appropriate. Gentlemen donating funds to assist in printing this work to jointly accomplish this virtuous deed is proper; therefore, I willingly write this preface without declining.

A guest asked me from the side: "In ancient times, Cangjie created writing, Rongcheng formulated music/tunings, Hu Cao made clothes, Yidi brewed wine, and Xizhong built carts. These five individuals all possessed divine wisdom and traces of sage intelligence. Thus, when a person accomplishes one task for posterity, they cannot possess all these abilities simultaneously. Today, Mr. Sun, regarding Buddhist Chan meditation, once authored a volume titled *Fofa Zhizhang* (Guiding Hand on Buddha's Dharma), which circulated widely within the realm. Now he again has [medical works] printed; is this not having too many divergent paths?"

I replied: "Not so. The Jina (Buddha) teaches with compassion to save the world; even ants and small insects are not abandoned. How much more so human diseases and premature death—how could one bear not to provide for them? If this book is published and becomes familiar to every household, perhaps those who perceive subtle signs and attend to health before illness can enjoy long peace, and those suffering from disease can find immediate relief through prescriptions tailored to their condition. This elevates the people to longevity, transforming short-lived souls into beings as long-lived as Peng Zu. I rejoice that Mr. Sun manifests the body of the Medical King to expound the Buddha's Dharma. You, however, marvel at his diverse pursuits; this may stem from the narrow-mindedness of someone whose heart is like a tufted grass in a well."

The guest then rose respectfully, thanked me for his own dullness, and urged me to write the preface for Mr. Sun. Mr. Sun’s given name is Zhihong, courtesy name Kerong, and Taishi is his pseudonym. His family originates from Qiantang. His father, Mr. Guiyan, was renowned for his medical skills during the Jiajing and Longqing reigns. Mr. Sun inherited his profession and elaborated upon it. He once traveled to Mount San to gather herbs, met an extraordinary person, and received secret instructions from the Dragon Palace. Wherever he went, he revived people. Having resided as a guest in our Jianzhou for a long time, the people of Jianzhou relied on him as the master of life and death, lingering and reluctant to let him go. Furthermore, he was friendly with my friends, the two Shen gentlemen, Songri and Xuanhai, and the two Chen gentlemen, Zhongxiu and Ze-liang. Through them, I came to know him.

Written by Tongchuang Laoren (Old Man of the Pine Window), Zhong Zubao, on the Winter Solstice day of the Gengwu year of the Chongzhen era.