Library

Ji Shiying, the Commander of Luzhou Prefecture, habitually consumed cold foods and cooling medicines. He believed that his rich diet inevitably caused excessive heat in his body. Consequently, due to an eye ailment, he took cold-natured remedies for several days, which led to a Yin syndrome (a pathological state characterized by deficiency of Yang or excess of Yin). His pulse was tight yet powerless. He suffered from severe pain extending from the chest down to the lower abdomen. Each episode of pain was so intense that it nearly proved fatal. He had experienced this condition the previous year and recovered after seeking treatment from Song Wenzhi. This time, the illness recurred and was more severe than before. He urgently summoned Song Wenzhi again. Although Song prescribed decoctions containing dried ginger (Ganjiang) and prepared aconite (Fuzi), which slightly revived the patient, the pain persisted. Therefore, Song doubled the dosage of Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) in his original prescription and administered it. I told the patient: "After a while, the pain will likely radiate downward from the chest, segment by segment, reaching the abdomen. If your bowels become unblocked or residual gas is passed, the cold pathogenic factor will be expelled." The outcome indeed followed my prediction. The following day, after recovery, he was instructed to regularly consume Shenyin Wan (Miraculous Efficacy Pill) to eradicate the root of accumulated cold.

*Yin Zheng Lue Li* (Brief Examples of Yin Syndromes), a single volume, was authored by Wang Haogu, known as the Old Man of Haizang, during the Yuan Dynasty. Because Yin syndromes in Cold Damage (Shanghan) are harder to differentiate than Yang syndromes, he wrote this specialized book to elucidate them. The differentiation of symptoms and application of medicines are logical and systematic. It includes a preface by Ma Ge (courtesy name Xinzhi). According to the records in the *Siku Quanshu* (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), Wang Haogu's medical works include *Yi Lei Yuan Rong* (The Origin of Medical Ramparts), 12 volumes; *Ci Shi Nan Zhi* (Difficulties in This Matter), 2 volumes; and *Tang Ye Ben Cao* (Materia Medica of Decoctions), 3 volumes. This book is absent from those records, suggesting it had not yet been published at that time. Furthermore, it does not appear in the Ming Dynasty compilation *Dongyuan Shishu* (Ten Works of Dongyuan), indicating it is a rare secret manuscript. This copy bears the library seal of Qian Hui (courtesy name Zunwang) of Yushan, a hand-corrected seal of Hui Dingyu, and two seals of Sun Congzhan Qingzengshi. In the middle is the seal of Hui Dong, whose courtesy name was "Dingyu". Behind these two seals is the family collection seal of Sun Qingzeng. Recently, it was acquired by my friend Wu Xiaozheng from Zhenze; it is indeed an old manuscript copy. Wang Haogu, courtesy name Jinzhi, was from Zhaozhou. He served as a professor in his prefecture after passing the imperial examination. Transitioning from the Jin to the Yuan Dynasty, he studied under Zhang Yuansu (courtesy name Jiegu) in his youth, along with Li Gao (styled Dongyuan), though he belonged to a younger generation. Later, he studied under Li Gao. Thus, in *Yi Lei Yuan Rong*, he refers to Master Jiegu as "Old Man Jiegu" and to Li Gao as "Mr. Li Mingzhi of Dongyuan". However, the preface by Ma Ge in this book only refers to "Master Haizang, Mr. Wang Jinzhi", stating he was from a Zhao family, passed the jinshi examination early in life through proficiency in classics, and later devoted himself to medicine, initially studying under Li Mingzhi of Dongyuan and mastering all his teachings. The self-inscription at the end of the volume also says, "I do not know when I will again have the opportunity to ask my Mr. Li of Dongyuan," omitting any mention of Jiegu. Why is this? Yet, the book begins with examples of Yin-Yang pulses from Qibo, followed by examples of internal injury to the Three Yin meridians from Old Man Jiegu, then by examples from Old Man Haizang, while examples from Yi Fangyin, Bian Que, and Zhang Zhongjing are compiled later. Although he does not explicitly call him "Master," the respect for his teacher is implicitly evident in the text. Some criticize his use of overly warm and hot medicines, failing to realize that since this book specifically discusses Yin syndromes, it should not mix in treatment methods for Yang syndromes. Wang Haogu's writings are preserved; does this mean he could only treat Yin syndromes and not Yang syndromes? How can we blame ancient masters for errors caused by later practitioners who fail to distinguish between Yin and Yang and hold biased views? The self-preface is dated Renchen Year, which is the first year of Tianxing era of Emperor Aizong of Jin, corresponding to the fourth year of Emperor Taizong of Mongolia. The self-inscription at the end mentions Bing Shen Autumn, which is the eighth year of Emperor Taizong of Mongolia, three years after the fall of Jin. The preface by Ma Ge is dated Gui Mao Year, which is the second year of Empress Dowager Naimazhen's regency after Emperor Taizong. *Yi Lei Yuan Rong* was completed in Ding You Year, one year after this book. Only the self-preface of *Ci Shi Nan Zhi* is dated Zhida First Year, which is over seventy years after the fall of Jin. Did Wang Haogu live to such an advanced age, surviving until the reign of Emperor Wuzong? Or is "Zhida" a typo for "Zhiyuan"? These points are recorded here for further verification.
Written by Wang Rizhen of Wucheng at his residence in Shanghai in the seventh month of autumn, in the year Ji Zi, third year of Tongzhi.