Library

*Yin Hai Jing Wei* (Essential Secrets of the Silver Sea) consists of two volumes, and it is unknown who authored it. It seems that I was born with eyes prone to illness. Previously, while serving in the Yeyuan (Imperial Secretariat), my colleague and friend, Mr. Li Chonghan, presented this book to me, saying, "Perhaps this will be beneficial for the medical techniques regarding eye diseases?" Upon reviewing it, I found that the theoretical discussions based on images and the principles of Q&A were all analyzed clearly and thoroughly, as if I could see through organs like someone who had drunk "water from an upper pool" (a legendary water believed to grant clairvoyance). The title *Yin Hai* (Silver Sea) is derived from the *Daozang* (Taoist Canon). As a medical text, it is indeed exquisite and subtle. Throughout my years of official travel, I always carried it in my book chest. Now, having temporarily assumed duties in Hebei North, I ordered the local authorities to print it, not wishing to keep it secret for private gain. Nevertheless, one should not adhere rigidly to prescriptions. Pulse signs and syndromes differ in Yin/Yang, exterior/interior, and deficiency/excess; the discretion to modify them lies with the practitioner. Otherwise, adhering rigidly to ancient methods without adapting to changes would render this book merely the dregs of the ancients! As for those simple and miraculous prescriptions, they were transmitted by Yang Lizhi of the Northern Song Dynasty and revised by Lu Dongmen Bo, claiming unique skill without relying on other six substances. This work was written by Qi Yijing of Beihai, a Jinshi degree holder, Zhongxian Dafu (Grand Master of Benevolence), Vice Commissioner of Criminal Justice for Henan and other regions, Imperial Envoy for Military Patrol of Hebei North, and former Left Censor of the Ministry of Personnel.

Humans have two eyes, akin to the Heaven and Earth having two luminaries (Sun and Moon), observing all things and discerning the finest details, reaching everywhere. When the Sun and Moon become obscured for a time, it is due to wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; when eyes lose sight, it is due to the harm of the Four Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness) and Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Grief, Fear, Fright). Generally, the eyes are the essence of the Five Zang Organs and the vital connection of the body. Thus, the Five Zang are divided into Five Wheels, and the Eight Trigrams are named Eight Palaces. The Five Wheels: The Liver belongs to Wood, called the Wind Wheel, corresponding to the cornea (Wu Jing) in the eye; the Heart belongs to Fire, called the Blood Wheel, corresponding to the canthi (corners of the eyes); the Spleen belongs to Earth, called the Flesh Wheel, corresponding to the upper and lower eyelids; the Lung belongs to Metal, called the Qi Wheel, corresponding to the sclera (Bai Ren); the Kidney belongs to Water, called the Water Wheel, corresponding to the pupil. Regarding the Eight Palaces, they have names but no fixed positions: the Large Intestine Fu organ is the Heavenly Palace, the Spleen and Stomach Fu organs are the Earthly Palace, the Mingmen (Gate of Life) Fu organ is the Fire Palace, the Kidney Fu organ is the Water Palace, the Liver Fu organ is the Wind Palace, the Small Intestine Fu organ is the Thunder Palace, the Gallbladder Fu organ is the Mountain Palace, and the Bladder Fu organ is the Marsh Palace. These constitute the root of the eyes, which further relies on blood as the connective tissue (Baoluo). If Wind-Heat accumulates, or the Qi of the Seven Emotions becomes stagnant and fails to disperse, attacking upward to the eyes, symptoms manifest according to their association with the Five Zang. Symptoms may include swelling and pain, photophobia with excessive tearing, or the formation of nebulae leading to dimness and blindness, totaling seventy-two types of syndromes. Treatment must investigate the source: if due to Wind, disperse it; if due to Heat, use cooling agents; if due to Qi stagnation, regulate and smooth it. One must absolutely avoid using needles, knives, hooks, or cutting instruments lightly. Occasional cures are mere luck; erroneous treatment causing damage will inevitably lead to lifelong affliction. It is also inadvisable to universally apply cold medicines, lest they freeze the blood, causing coagulation and stasis, thereby forming chronic diseases. Medication should be measured against the patient's age and the deficiency or excess of their constitution. Those with Kidney Deficiency may also suffer from lusterless eyes or the formation of cold-type nebulae, requiring warming of the Lower Yuan and nourishment of Kidney Water. Patients in the North often endure wind and sand during the day and sleep on heated kang beds at night; the interaction of these two energies necessitates the use of cooling medicines. Hence, medication differs between Northern and Southern populations. After chickenpox or smallpox, if toxic vapors stagnate in the Liver and cannot be vented, attacking the eyes and damaging the pupil, there is traditionally no established treatment method.