Library

During the Tongzhi reign, after serving as the Prefect of Runzhou, I again acted in the capacity of Prefect of Jiangning. Mr. Lin Song came to the yamen to pay his respects; he was a scholar selected by me during my tenure in Runzhou. He presented a volume of medical writings by his ancestor, Mr. Xitong, and requested that I write a preface for it. The book already contained an original preface by my late teacher, Jun Xiangqi. Mr. Xitong and my teacher had long shared a spiritual connection, knowing each other's minds. I knew that although Mr. Xitong possessed learning for governing the world, he remained frustrated and unappreciated. Consequently, he immersed himself in reading ancient medical collections, extracting their essence to compile this work. It stands out as outstanding and undoubtedly destined to be transmitted to posterity. I am negligent in the art of medicine and know little of it. However, having served as an official, running east and west with orders, I privately believe that the way of governing the people is connected to medical practice, and thus I offer these reflections. After periods of turmoil and dispersion, when people's livelihoods are depleted, policies of nurturing and restoration are like a doctor urgently tonifying Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi). Treating treacherous civilians and cunning officials requires uprooting them completely, just as a doctor must cleanse impurities and eliminate filth without sparing effort. The implementation of politics must seek the location of benefits and harms, just as a doctor distinguishes meridians and collaterals and must not administer drugs or acupuncture recklessly. Other methods, such as direct treatment (Zheng Zhi) and contrary treatment (Cong Zhi), the appropriateness of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier roles in prescriptions, the principles of deficiency and excess reduction and supplementation, harmonizing Blood and Qi, and regulating Yin and Yang—all demonstrate that a good doctor treating disease is like a good official governing people. This is why ancients said that the way of treating disease is analogous to governing the state. If Mr. Xitong had been fortunate enough to obtain an official position on that day and applied his learning for governance to manage the people, there would surely have been even more enduring legacies. Yet, with great talent, he regarded this work as a mere byproduct. Readers of this book all sigh that it is a pity he did not realize that a scholar living in this world should only seek what is beneficial to the people; the principle of treating disease and governing people is identical. Now, Mr. Xitong's medical skills transmit his learning for governance, inviting deep contemplation. Having informed the student, I write this as a preface.
Prefect of Jiangning Prefecture, Tianmen Hezhuang, Jiang Qixun, respectfully wrote the preface in the 13th year of Tongzhi.

The ancients said, "If one cannot become a good Prime Minister, then become a good Doctor." Medicine is indeed a field where life and death are entrusted and性命 (Xing Ming, nature and life) are supported; how can it be spoken of casually? One must participate in and assist the mechanism of Heaven and Earth's creation without deviation; one must thoroughly understand the principles of Yin and Yang's recurrence without omission. Furthermore, regarding classics such as *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon), and *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), as well as the famous sayings of masters like Zhang Zhongjing, one must study deeply to comprehend changes, think meticulously to grasp subtleties, observe broadly but select concisely, and apply knowledge analogously. Only by possessing clear insights beforehand and making independent judgments during clinical practice can one revive the critically ill, eliminate hidden diseases, bring the world into an era of benevolence and longevity, and compensate for the Creator's perceived injustice. Thus, the profundity of medicine is likely beyond the comprehension of superficial individuals. In the Bingchen year of the Xianfeng reign, while avoiding chaos in Zhejiang, I obtained a copy of *Lei Zheng Zhi Cai* (Classification of Syndromes and Treatment Guidelines). Upon reading it, analyzing it repeatedly and in detail, I found its principles clear, language concise yet comprehensive, and its syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies firmly rooted in the sacred classics, expounding profound meanings. It first lists categories and sections, followed by supplementary prescriptions and medical cases, with detailed and clear organization, meticulously analyzed, allowing readers to understand it at a glance. It takes ancient models as reference without being bound by them, achieving the wonder of mental and manual coordination. Regarding the medical path, I admit my own inadequacy and sigh that most practitioners today rely on subjective judgment, guessing arbitrarily, and even placing themselves too high, unwilling to share knowledge. Whenever I see remote villages and poor families suffering from illness, unable to afford medical care, leaving recovery to chance, who knows that if the medicine does not cause dizziness (Ming Xuan, a reaction indicating efficacy), the disease will not heal? Initially, the illness lingers, eventually becoming incurable, which is truly lamentable. Therefore, I wished to widely distribute this book, but lacking the original blocks, printing was impossible. Thus, I spared no cost to have it re-engraved. May those who purchase this book find prescriptions for their diseases and treat illnesses via these prescriptions, providing some small benefit to the arts of health preservation and aiding the world.
Recorded by Xie Xixu of Chongren in the early summer month of the Dingmao year, 6th year of Tongzhi.