Library

Medical prescriptions have existed since ancient times. Since antiquity, those who have written books on prescriptions number in the dozens or hundreds, and the number of prescriptions is almost incalculable. The volumes are vast and numerous; without a skilled physician to guide them, where would one turn for advice? Moreover, in remote villages and distant lands, there may be illness but no doctor, or prescriptions but no medicine. How few could avoid premature death under such circumstances? Ge Hong (courtesy name Zhichuan) of Danyang examined the theories of ancient and modern medical practitioners, verified prescriptions that were concise and easy to obtain, and acupuncture points with clear measurements, believing that these could certainly save people from death. Thus, he compiled the *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up the Sleeve). This allows those who are ill to possess it: even if they do not have Han Boxiu’s household stocked with medicine, they will have medicine at home; even if they lack someone like Feng Junda to practice medicine, everyone can become a healer. It is indeed suitable for emergency preparedness. Tao Hongjing of Huayang stated: "Ge’s compilation benefits the world greatly, but after long transmission, errors inevitably arise." Therefore, he wrote the *Baiyi Fang* (Prescriptions for Hundred Cases), appending it after the *Beiji Fang*, correcting errors, filling in omissions, and adding methods for processing and administration. These details were thoroughly prepared. He further categorized conditions into internal, external, and other injuries into three sections, allowing readers to identify diseases upon opening the book without tedious searching, making it even more suitable for emergencies. Both Ge and Tao were known by the world as virtuous men, whose learning was comprehensive and skills versatile. Yet it still took years to complete this compilation. Each prescription and discussion was recorded only after practical application, not merely collected for their simplicity. If every household kept a copy, obtaining a prescription when illness strikes would mean the prescription matches the disease. It is like visiting Bian He’s shop, where everything is fine jade; or entering Bo Le’s stable, where every horse is a steed. Could one possibly disregard them lightly? In his own preface, Ge stated that if people could establish faith, they could avoid sudden death, revealing his intent clearly. Following great upheavals in the world, this text nearly vanished. Those few copies that survived were treasured privately, which was not the original intention of creating the prescriptions. Wu Hou, the regional commander, suffered from frequent illnesses in his youth. While serving as an official and studying, he paid close attention to medicine. Previously, while inspecting the Henan North Circuit, he obtained this text from the Guo family of Pingxiang. The Guo family’s father-in-law had acquired it from the Imperial Secretariat in Bianjing. During times of turmoil, it was preserved alongside his life and never shown lightly to others. Its emergence today is due to Heaven’s will. Wu Hou ordered its engraving and printing to hasten its completion, fearing that patients might see the prescriptions too late. Although the visibility or obscurity of prescriptions relates to human life and death, the timing of their release reflects a heart filled with hidden pain and compassion—an unwillingness to bear seeing others suffer. With a heart unwilling to bear suffering comes governance unwilling to let suffering persist. Thus, Wu Hou’s benevolence toward the people extends far beyond just a book of prescriptions. The publication of these prescriptions is the manifestation of my benevolent heart. Commissioned to write the preface, I specifically record the beginning and end to inform those who are unaware.
In the deep autumn of the Bingzi year of the Zhiyuan era, Duan Chengsi of Jiting inscribed.