Library

A scholar establishing words and writings, if lacking solid learning, how can he attach himself to the ranks of ancient sages; without outstanding insight, how can he glimpse the hearts of ancient sages.

I once selected and annotated ancient prescriptions during my leisure time, feeling that (Wang Zijie's work) was like pearls and jade before me; it is undoubtedly a meritorious servant of Zhang Zhongjing, and a wing/helper to the ancient sages. Using it to critique vulgar learning and show it to future generations, it is merely a pot of medicine passed down. I am old now, having resigned my post, hurriedly returning north, unable to continue holding arms with Wang Zijie day and night to clarify doubts, not otherwise. Writing this as a preface, also to record our parting.

At that time, in the late spring of the Xinhai year of Yongzheng (1731), fellow clansman Wei Litong (style name Nianting) inscribed.

I once read the *Rites of Zhou* (*Zhou Li*), which states that physicians in charge of diseases manage the illnesses of the myriad people, nourishing their ailments with five flavors, five grains, and five medicines, and observing them through five sounds, five qi, and five colors, with standards lying in...

Xuanyuan Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo authored the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions); Yi Yin and Wu Xian created the *Tang Ye Jing* (Decoction Classic); Bian Que interpreted the *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues). All are supreme saints among physicians, unmatched by any.

Arriving at the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing wrote sixteen volumes. His *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases) elucidates treating diseases according to the Six Channels (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin), selecting ancestral prescriptions, transforming them into 113 formulas and 97 methods. The prescription formulation remains constant and unchanging, while its application varies infinitely without stagnation. It inherits from Xuanyuan and Huangdi, and opens the way for later philosophers, just as Sima Qian is to history, Du Fu to poetry, and Yan Zhenqing to calligraphy. He can be said to combine the strengths of former sages, being the great synthesizer of medical science? Later, Wang Bing of the Tang Dynasty began providing annotations; Qian Yi of the Song Dynasty offered discussions; Cheng Wuji provided formula explanations; Wu Hegao conducted formula examinations; Ke Yunbo wrote *Mingyi Fanglun* (Discussion of Famous Physicians' Formulas); and Wang Ang of our dynasty collected various theories to create his annotation. They successively followed and expounded, assisting predecessors, achieving great merit. Yet, regarding the rules of formulas and the standards of methods, few have understood them comprehensively.

The way of using medicine is equal to the way of using troops. Abandoning the methods of Sun Wu and Wu Qi, yet claiming "I am good at forming arrays, I am good at fighting," a mob cannot become a disciplined army. This is obvious. However, even with the system of chariot warfare, if applied improperly leading to defeat, then the divine and changing applications still have未尽 (unfinished/unexplored) aspects.

Being untalented, I privately selected ancient prescriptions that conform to the "Three Forms, Four Systems, Ten Agents" (San Fang Si Zhi Shi Ji), revealing the subtle and elucidating the profound, clarifying their conformity to rules and standards. There are changes in rigidity and flexibility, methods of restraint, distinguishing systems of large and small when treating the Triple Burner (San Jiao), dividing quantities when measuring dosages. Within this, differentiating the generation and transformation of the Five Elements (Wu Xing), adapting to the warmth or severity of seasons, examining the yin-yang deficiency-excess of human affairs, and the sovereign-minister-assistant-courier roles of herbs, all are harmonized and adjusted. This is what is meant by the subtlety of application, focusing on one mind. These are all hidden treasures not previously revealed by ancients, and I dare not add personal speculation. Presumably, the essence of medicine is contained in books, but people are accustomed to them and ignore them. Therefore, I organized them into three volumes. The upper volume exclusively clarifies Zhang Zhongjing's 113 formulas and 97 methods; the middle and lower volumes elucidate formulas for internal medicine, gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, ophthalmology, and other departments; appended at the end are miscellaneous formulas and herb properties. Named *Gu Fang Xuan Zhu* (Selected Annotations of Ancient Formulas). Although I dare not claim it meets the standards of establishing a career, the books of ancients can be immortal, and if I can elucidate them later, consulting with ancients, perhaps they will not consider my words erroneous or contrary to the intent of physicians in the *Zhou Li*. Is this not somewhat aligned? Thus I write this as a preface. On the twenty-second day of the ninth month of the tenth year of Yongzheng, Wang Zijie of Guwu wrote, aged seventy-five.