医之为道。难言矣。必审诊以起度量。立规矩。称权衡。合色脉。表里。有余。不足。顺逆。之法。复参其人之动
静。与其息之相应。然后从而治之。非洞明应世群书之得失。不足与于斯。黄帝内经。虽疑先秦之士。根据仿而托之。其
言深。其旨邃。以弘其考辨。信而有征。是当为医家之宗。下此则秦越人和缓。无书可传。越人所着八十一难经。则皆
举内经之要。而推言者也。又下此。则淳于意华佗之熊经鸱顾。固亦导引家之一术。至于刳腹背。湔肠胃。而去疾。则
涉于神怪矣。意之医状。司马迁备志之。其所谓回风杳风者。今人绝不知为何证。况复求于治疗之深旨乎。又下。则张
机。机之金匮玉函经。及伤寒诸论。诚千古不刊之典。第详于六气所伤。而于情欲食饮。罢劳之所致者。略而弗议。兼
之文本错简。亦未易以序次求之也。又下此。则王叔和。叔和纂歧伯华佗等书。为脉经。叙阴阳内外。辨三部九候。分
人宁气和。条陈十二经络。洎夫三焦五脏六腑之病。最为着明。惜乎为妄男子。括以肤陋之脉歌。遂使其本书。不盛布
于世也。又下此。则巢元方。其病源候论。似不为无见。但言风寒二湿。而不着湿热之文。乃其失也。又下此则王 。
推五运六气之变。撰为天元王策。周详切密。亦人所难。苟泥之。则属滞而不通矣。又下此。则王焘孙思邈。思邈以
绝人之识。操慈仁恻浓之心。其列千金方翼。及工害人之祸。至为愤切。后人稍闯其藩垣。亦足以其术鸣。但不知伤寒
之数。或弗能无遗憾也。熏虽暗劣。外台秘要。所言方证符禁灼灸之详。颇有所祖述。然谓针能杀生人。而不能起死人
者。则一偏之见也。又下此。则钱乙庞安时许叔微。叔微在准绳尺寸之中。而无所发明。安时虽能出奇应变。而终未离
于范围。二人皆得张机之粗者也。惟乙深造机之阃奥。而撷其精华。建为五脏之方。各随所宜。肝有相火。则有泻而无
补。肾为真水。则有补而无泻。皆启内经之秘。世概以婴孺医目之。何知乙之浅哉。其遗书散之出于阎孝忠所集者。多
孝忠之意。初非乙之本真也。又下此。则工谷张元素。河间刘完素。睢水张从正。元素之与完素。虽设为奇梦异人。以
神其授受。实闻乙之风而起者。若从正则又宗完素者也。元素以古方新病。决不能相值。治疾一切不以方。故其书亦不
传。其存于今者。皆后来之所傅会。其学则东垣李杲深得之。杲推明内外二伤。而多注意于补脾土之说。盖以土为一身
之主。土平则诸脏平矣。从正以吐汗下三法。风寒暑湿火燥六门。为医之关键。其治多攻。其剂多峻厉。不善学人杀人。
光素论风火之病。以内经病机气宜十九条。着为元病式。简奥粹微。有非大观局诸医。所可仿佛。究其设施。则亦不越
补攻二者之间也。嗟乎。自有内经以来。医书之藏有司者。凡一百七十九家。二百九部。二千二百五十九卷。他未遑深
论。即今所论者言之。世之医师。果能尽心于斯否乎。脱或未尽心于斯。则夫起度量。立规矩。称权衡。合色脉之属。
焉能察而行之。不至以人命为戏也。几希矣。虽然亦有要焉。逆与顺之谓也。曰升降。曰浮沉。吾则顺之。曰温凉。曰
寒热。吾则逆之。果能此道矣。则去夫先医之所治。虽不中。不远矣。乌伤。贾思诚。濂外弟也。尝同濂。师事城南闻
先生。学治经。久之复受医说于彦修宋先生。治疾有奇验。荐绅间多为赋诗。而属濂以序。濂为直疏历世群书之得失。
而最思诚以学人如此。
The Way of Medicine is indeed difficult to describe. One must conduct a careful diagnosis to establish standards of measurement, set rules and norms, weigh the balance of excess and deficiency, integrate the observation of complexion and pulse, analyze the methods of exterior and interior, surplus and deficit, and compliance and opposition. Furthermore, one must consider the patient's dynamic and static states as well as the correspondence of their respiration, before proceeding with treatment. Without a profound understanding of the merits and demerits of various classical texts, one cannot partake in this art. Although there are doubts that the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) was fabricated by scholars of the Warring States period under a false name, its language is profound and its purport is subtle. After rigorous textual criticism, it is verified and reliable, and thus should be regarded as the ancestor of medical schools. Below this level come Bian Que (Qin Yueren) and Huan Zi, who left no written works. The *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), authored by Bian Que, enumerates the essentials of the *Neijing* and expands upon them. Further down are Chunyu Yi and Hua Tuo; their practice of "Bear Hanging and Owl Gazing" (Xiong Jing Chi Gu, a form of Daoist breathing and movement exercise) belongs to the category of Daoyin techniques. As for procedures involving opening the abdomen and washing the intestines to remove disease, these border on the miraculous or bizarre. Sima Qian recorded Chunyu Yi's medical cases in detail in the *Shiji* (Records of the Grand Historian). However, conditions such as "Huifeng" and "Yaofeng" mentioned therein are completely unknown to modern people, let alone understanding their deep therapeutic principles. Next comes Zhang Zhongjing (Zhang Ji). His *Jinkui Yufan Jing* (Golden Cabinet Jade Box Classic) and his treatises on Cold Damage (*Shanghan Lun*) are truly immortal classics of the ages. However, they detail injuries caused by the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) but briefly neglect issues arising from emotions, desires, diet, and overexertion. Moreover, due to textual disarray (cuojian) in the bamboo slips, it is not easy to arrange them in order. Following him is Wang Shuhe, who compiled books by Qibo, Hua Tuo, and others into the *Maijing* (Pulse Classic). He described Yin and Yang, internal and external aspects, distinguished the Three Regions and Nine Pulses, differentiated between tranquility and qi harmony, and systematically listed the Twelve Meridians and diseases of the Triple Burner, Zang organs, and Fu organs, which was remarkably clear. Regrettably, he was a man of poor character who summarized his work with superficial pulse rhymes, causing his original book to fail to spread widely. Next is Chao Yuanfang. His *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases) shows insight, but his omission of Damp-Heat alongside Wind-Cold-Dampness is a flaw. Below him is Wang Bing, who deduced the changes of the Five Movements and Six Qi, writing the *Tianyuan Yu Ce*. His work was detailed and precise, though rigid adherence to it leads to stagnation. Next are Wang Tao and Sun Simiao. Sun Simiao possessed extraordinary wisdom and a compassionate heart. In his *Qianjin Yaofang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and *Qianjin Yifang*, as well as his warnings about the dangers of incompetent physicians, he expressed deep indignation. Later generations who glimpsed his teachings could achieve fame through medicine, though perhaps lacking depth in Cold Damage theory. I, Huang Lin, though dull and inferior, have elaborated on the prescriptions, talismans, prohibitions, moxibustion, and cauterization details found in Wang Tao's *Waitai Miyao*. However, his claim that acupuncture can kill the living but cannot revive the dead is a biased view. Further down are Qian Yi, Pang Anshi, and Xu Shuwei. Xu Shuwei made little innovation within established norms; Pang Anshi could adapt flexibly but remained within conventional bounds. Both only grasped the superficial aspects of Zhang Zhongjing's art. Only Qian Yi delved into the profound secrets of Zhang Zhongjing, extracting the essence to formulate treatments for the Five Zang organs according to their specific needs. Since the Liver contains Ministerial Fire, it requires draining rather than tonifying; since the Kidney is True Water, it requires tonifying rather than draining. These insights unlocked the mysteries of the *Neijing*. The world generally dismisses Qian Yi as merely a pediatrician, failing to recognize his depth. His surviving writings, collected by Yan Xiaozhong, often reflect Yan's own ideas rather than Qian's true intent. Below them are Zhang Yuansu, Liu Wansu, and Zhang Congzheng. Zhang Yuansu and Liu Wansu used mystical dreams to legitimize their transmissions, yet were inspired by Qian Yi. Zhang Congzheng followed Liu Wansu. Zhang Yuansu argued that ancient formulas do not fit new diseases, treating all illnesses without fixed prescriptions, so his works did not survive; extant texts are later fabrications. His learning was best inherited by Li Dongyuan (Li Gao), who clarified internal and external injuries, emphasizing the tonification of Spleen Earth, as Earth is the master of the body; when Earth is balanced, all organs are balanced. Zhang Congzheng emphasized the three methods of vomiting, sweating, and purging, and the six pathogenic factors (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Fire, Dryness) as key to medicine. His treatments were largely aggressive and his prescriptions harsh; improper use could be fatal. Liu Wansu discussed Wind-Fire diseases based on the Nineteen Pathomechanisms of the *Neijing*, writing the *Yuanbing Shi*. It was concise and profound, unmatched by contemporary medical publications. Ultimately, his methods still fell within the spectrum of tonification and draining. Alas! Since the *Neijing*, there have been 179 authors, 209 volumes, and 2,259 scrolls of medical texts stored in official libraries. Ignoring others, regarding those discussed here: do physicians today truly devote themselves to this? If not, how can they apply standards of measurement, rules, weights, and integrated pulse-complexion analysis without treating human life as a game? Hope is slim. Nevertheless, there is a key principle: compliance and opposition. For ascending/descending and floating/sinking, we comply; for warming/cooling and cold/heat, we oppose. Mastering this way, even without referencing past physicians' treatments, one will not miss the mark significantly. Jia Sicheng from Wushang is my cousin. He studied classics with me under Master Wen of the South City, and later learned medicine from Master Song Yanxiu. He achieved remarkable cures, inspiring poems from literati who asked me to write a preface. I have straightforwardly analyzed the merits and demerits of historical texts and highly praise Jia Sicheng for his scholarly approach.