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Added in the Jiyou year (1073): *Bencao Yanyi* (Treatise on Materia Medica).

Preface to the General Principles, Part I: Han Baosheng states: Examining the drugs, they are categorized into minerals (stones and jades), plants (grasses and trees), and animals (insects and beasts). They are directly called "Bencao" (Materia Medica / Herbal Classics) because among all types of drugs, plant-based ones are the most numerous.

Old theories claim that the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica Classic) was authored by Shennong, but there is no definitive evidence for this, nor is it recorded in the *Han Shu: Yiwenzhi* (Book of Han: Treatise on Literature). The *Han Shu: Ji of Emperor Ping* records: "During the Yuanshi era, works on the Five Classics, Bencao, and medical arts amounted to several hundred thousand characters." The name "Bencao" likely appears here. However, the commentary by Li Shiji (Duke of Ying) et al., citing Ban Gu's preface to the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), states: "Based on the cold and warm properties of stones and herbs, one traces the depth of diseases." This is originally a discourse on classical prescriptions (Jingfang), not mentioning the term "Bencao." Only the Liang Dynasty's *Qilu* (Seven Records) records the *Shennong Bencao* in three volumes, promoting it as the beginning; this is considered an error. Some suspect that the counties and commanderies of origin recorded therein include place names from the Later Han Dynasty, suggesting it was written by figures like Zhang Zhongjing or Hua Tuo; this is also incorrect. The *Huainanzi* states: "Shennong tasted the flavors of a hundred herbs, suffering poison seventy times in a single day; thus, medical formulas arose." It seems that in ancient times, before the establishment of written texts, knowledge was transmitted orally from master to disciple, hence termed "Bencao." Since the Two Han Dynasties, the number of famous physicians increased. Figures such as Zhang Ji (Zhongjing) and Hua Tuo began based on ancient learning, attaching new theories, and compiling them systematically; thus, Bencao appeared in canonical catalogs. However, the old classic had only three volumes with merely 365 drugs. By the Liang Dynasty, Tao Hongjing (styled Ju Yin) presented the *Bielu* (Separate Record) of famous physicians, adding another 365 drugs, and annotated them, dividing the work into seven volumes. During the Xianqing era of the Tang Dynasty, Su Gong, the Supervisor of Guards and Longshi, collected errors and inaccuracies, submitting a memorial requesting revision. Consequently, Sikong and Duke of Ying, Li Shiji, were ordered to review gains and losses with Su Gong. They added 114 drugs, classified them into categories, and expanded the work to twenty volumes. The world calls this the *Tang Bencao* (Tang Materia Medica). In the Kaibao era of our dynasty, two edicts ordered medical officials Liu Han and Daoist Ma Zhi to compile and collect materials. They selected 133 drugs commonly used by physicians and proven effective, appending them. Imperial Academician Lu Duoxun, Li Fang, Wang You, Hu Meng, etc., were ordered to re-edit and revise, resulting in titles such as "Detailed Revision" and "Revised Edition," which were carved onto printing blocks and distributed. Thereafter, physicians knew what standards to follow. Meanwhile, Meng Chang of the pseudo-Shu state ordered his academician Han Baosheng et al. to compile a book referencing the Tang Bencao Tu Jing (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica), making slight additions. The world calls this the *Shu Bencao* (Shu Materia Medica), which is also currently circulated. From the Han Dynasty to the present, barely a millennium has passed. Through three major compilations, over 600 drugs have been added, and collection has become extensive, making it quite comprehensive. Nevertheless, knowledgeable physicians still believe that due to its long circulation and subsequent scholarly research, many cross-references have accumulated; recent clinical usage reveals omissions and gaps. Therefore, a compilation and annotation are necessary to prepare for health preservation and disease eradication. In the eighth month of the Jiayou Second Year (1057), an edict instructed Ministers Yu Xi, Yi, Song, Dong, et al., to conduct further corrections. Having received the mandate, we conducted rigorous research. We privately opine that past physicians recorded treatments upon observing efficacy, leading to accumulation. Surveying various prescriptions, the volume is vast and difficult to exhaust; although repeatedly edited, criteria for inclusion and exclusion varied. Some drugs listed in the *Benjing* (Original Classic) are described briefly; some folk remedies are unknown to imperial physicians. If not detailedly recorded according to circumstances, many would be lost. Thus, we request to supplement and annotate based on existing omissions. We shall collect the functions of items recorded in various medical books and pharmacological spectra. However, names that are obscure, eccentric, or bizarre will be excluded. Regarding other historical and philosophical texts, even if not urgent for prescriptions, if they contain references where medicinal effects are verifiable and reliable, we shall also include them, striving for comprehensiveness to fulfill the imperial decree. Among various works titled "Bencao," we take the *Kaibao Chongding Bencao* (Kaibao Revised Materia Medica) as the standard. The distribution of volumes, the intermingling of classics and commentaries, and the use of vermilion and black ink follow old precedents without alteration. All supplements and annotations are based on cited books. If meanings duplicate old texts, they are deleted to avoid redundancy. If old texts exist but are incomplete, and later books elaborate, these are preserved in full for clarity and detail. Each entry begins with vermilion text stating: "We respectfully note according to [Book Name]..." For newly established entries, explanations appear at the end, citing "See [Book Name]." Cited sources prioritize the Tang and Shu Bencaos; others are ordered chronologically. When citing older Bencaos, we cite the author's name (e.g., "Person X says"); for Tang and Shu editions, we specify "Tang Bencao says" or "Shu Bencao says." Regarding ink colors: content from the *Shennong Benjing* is printed in vermilion; additions by famous physicians to Shennong's original entries are printed in black interspersed with vermilion; all other new additions are separate entries in black. Contributions by Tao Hongjing are termed *Mingyi Bie Lu* (Separate Record of Famous Physicians), with their notes attached at the end. Additions from the Xianqing era are noted at the end as "Tang Benxian Fu" (Previously Attached in Tang Edition). Additions from the Kaibao era are noted as "Jin Fu" (Currently Attached). New supplements absent from old classics are listed after each entry as "Xin Bu" (Newly Supplemented). Old classifications divided drugs into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades. The "New Supplements" are difficult to classify strictly, so they are attached by category, e.g., Lvfan (Green Alum) follows Fanshi (Alum), Shanjianghua (Mountain Ginger Flower) follows Doukou (Cardamom), Fusang follows Shuiyang, etc. If a drug's function is not in the *Benjing* but was cited in old notes, and current additions are similar, no new entry is made; instead, it is appended to the original note as "Xu Zhu" (Continued Note), e.g., Diyi (Lichen) attaches to Yuanyi (Wall Moss), Yanfu attaches to Tongcao, Mazao attaches to Haizao. Old notes from Tao are cited as "Tao Juanyin says"; those from Xianqing as "Tang Benzhu"; those from Kaibao as "Jinzhu"; specific Kaibao investigations are distinguished as "Jin An" (Current Examination), "Jin Xiang" (Current Detail), "You An" (Further Examination), marked in vermilion at the start. If a drug name exists in the *Benjing* but functions are incomplete, and current additions provide benefits, these are also appended to the original note. For drugs used in the current era but unrecorded in previous texts and lacking verification (e.g., Hulusba, Hindai/Kelp), we request deliberation among imperial physicians to establish new entries titled "Xin Ding" (Newly Determined). Total old drugs: 983; Newly supplemented: 82 (excluding those attached to notes); Newly determined: 17. Total new and old: 1,082 entries, roughly explained by category. These fifteen general principles reveal the intent of the supplementation. The prefaces by Kaibao, Ying Gong (Li Shiji), and Tao Shi (Tao Hongjing) contain valuable principles and cannot be omitted; they are retained in the first chapter.

Total New and Old Drugs: 1,082 Species
- 360 Species: Shennong Benjing (Divine Farmer's Original Classic)
- 182 Species: Mingyi Bie Lu (Separate Record of Famous Physicians)
- 114 Species: Tang Benxian Fu (Previously Attached in Tang Edition)
- 133 Species: Jin Fu (Currently Attached - Kaibao Addition)
- 194 Species: Youming Weiyong (Named but Unused)
- 82 Species: Xin Bu (Newly Supplemented)
- 17 Species: Xin Ding (Newly Determined)