Library

Mr. Wei of Liuzhou, named Zhixiu (魏之琇), courtesy name Yuheng (玉横), was a native of Qiantang. Orphaned and poor in his youth, he studied diligently. My father befriended him when he was only in his teens. Since Mr. Wei was older than my father, their relationship was one of both teacher and friend. After his death, I published his late-life poetry, which is known as the *Liuzhou Yigao* (《柳州遗稿》). Previously, Mr. Bao Luyin (鲍渌饮) had published the *Lingnan Shichao* (《岭南诗钞》) for him; his talent was unrestrained and vigorous. His poem "Fallen Flowers" (*Luohua Shi*) was widely admired at the time. In his later years, he regretted his youthful works, striving to maintain a noble style, and his artistic attainment continued to rise. His tomb is located at Chishanbu, Qinglong Mountain, inscribed with: "Tomb of Wei of Liuzhou, Poet of Qiantang." The purchase of land and planning of the funeral were entirely undertaken by my father. With the changing seasons of spring and autumn, I would lead colleagues to offer wine and chicken offerings at his grave. Within the collection, there are few new poems written after the poets' deaths; lines such as "Having tasted worldly flavors, the ancient ways grow rare; Over the old grass, I wipe tears for a bosom friend; Hardly can clear wine revive the face of an old companion," were all composed after visiting Mr. Wei's tomb.

Mr. Wei was proficient in medicine and authored sixty volumes (Wang Shixiong notes: originally misprinted as five) of *Xu Mingyi Leian* (《续名医类案》, Continuation of Cases of Famous Physicians), which was included in the catalog of the Siku Quanshu (Four Treasuries of the Siku) compilation project. My mother once said that Jing Shi (Wang Shixiong's self-reference) suffered from frequent illnesses; whenever Mr. Wei visited, he would inevitably request Mr. Wei to examine him. Mr. Wei passed away in the Renchen year of the Qianlong reign. At that time, Jing Shi was still an infant, having personally received his kindness, yet now I can no longer recall his voice or countenance, which is truly lamentable.

The *Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tiyao* (General提要 of the Four Treasuries) states that this book is comprehensive in scope and covers various pathological transformations, but regrets that its arrangement is hasty and somewhat disorganized. Wang Shixiong notes: In the case of Lu Zuyu treating Chen Yachū in the Malaria section of Volume 11, it is recorded: "Recorded this case on the second day after the Winter Solstice in the Jichou year." Subsequent research into Academician Hu Shunong's *Xianyou Ji* (《先友记》) indicates that Mr. Wei died in the Renchen year of Qianlong. Therefore, completing sixty volumes in merely three years, even if extremely swift, suggests it was likely only a preliminary draft. Had heaven granted him more years to revise and refine it, surely those aforementioned deficiencies would not have existed. Though unqualified, I cannot serve Mr. Wei anymore. However, our backgrounds of orphanhood, poverty, and hardship were similar in our youth. Reading his book, I cannot help but shed tears of emotion. Thus, disregarding my own shallowness, I have added brief annotations, circled the excellent cases, and submitted them for expert appraisal. I have also listed the table of contents to facilitate translation and dissemination. Furthermore, I have appended the preface to *Liuzhou Yigao* and Hu's *Xianyou Ji* at the end, so that readers may gain a general understanding of Mr. Wei.

Winter, Eleventh Month, Xianfeng Year 1
Wang Shixiong, Hangzhou