Library

My great-grandfather, Mr. Chunyan, was orphaned in his youth and lived in poverty. Born with lofty aspirations, he had a passion for reading. Unable to afford private schooling, he secretly saved chicken eggs to exchange for books. When advised by others to study astrology and divination as a means of livelihood, he instead revealed all its secrets, saving countless lives. In his leisure time, he wrote several works, including *Huoren Xinjian* (Mirror of the Living Heart), *Xuche Lu* (Record of the Empty Chariot), *Yangsheng Leyao* (Essentials of Health Preservation), and *Maizheng Zhifang* (Pulse and Symptom Treatment Formulas). Among these, *Yangsheng Leyao* had previously been printed and published, while the rest remained stored in my family's book chests. While traveling in the Northern Capital, he fell victim to the jealousy of imperial physicians and passed away before the age of forty.

My great-grandfather, Mr. Juyi, and my late father inherited and transmitted his medical knowledge through generations. My late father always wished to publish the manuscripts left by our ancestor for the benefit of the world. From a young age, he bore the burden of household management, working diligently outside, but his ambitions remained unfulfilled until his old age, when he finally had the opportunity to rest at home. Initially, he entrusted the manuscript of *Maizheng Zhifang* to the engravers for woodblock printing. I intended to proceed with publishing the remaining works in order. *Maizheng Zhifang* analyzes symptoms based on pulse diagnosis, determines treatment methods according to symptoms, and subsequently selects appropriate formulas. Its principles are profound yet accessible; its language is concise yet comprehensive. It allows beginners to understand the content clearly, like reading their own palm, while even experienced practitioners (those who have "broken their elbow three times," implying extensive clinical experience) cannot transcend its scope. Indeed, it serves as an effective tool for guiding learners from basic to advanced levels. Therefore, its publication was urgent.

Before the book could be completed, my late father suddenly passed away. Accompanied by my second brother Bin, I returned home in grief, my heart and spleen shattered with sorrow. The manuscript was not given due attention, but fortunately, my elder cousin Tianshi carefully proofread it, ensuring no errors in details. About twenty to thirty percent of the work remained unfinished. He instructed me to complete it urgently. I vowed to support myself through humble labor, traveling widely to secure basic food and water to support my mother, dedicating any surplus funds to printing these books to fulfill my father's wishes. However, due to ongoing wars and unrest in recent years, finding a livelihood has been difficult, making such literary endeavors hard to pursue. Reflecting on how my great-grandfather lost his father while still an infant, possessed no savings, and never studied under a formal teacher, yet achieved immortal deeds and left immortal writings, I wonder: we, who enjoy the protection of our ancestors and the legacy of our fathers, fail to realize our ambitions. How does this compare in terms of virtue?

If Heaven had granted my father a few more years, all these books would have been completed. Why did Heaven take him so swiftly? Is it because these texts are too simplistic, contrary to Heavenly secrets, and thus Heaven willed them not to appear? Or is it because I wish to share them with the world, while Heaven intends to keep them hidden? Nevertheless, my father's aspiration has never left my mind for a single day. This is my responsibility as the unworthy descendant.

Zhi Chi, the fourth-generation descendant, bows respectfully and writes this postscript.