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Translation of the prefaces by Bao Xiangao and Mei Qizhao from *Yanfang Xinbian* (New Collection of Verified Prescriptions)

It is impossible for ordinary people to be free from disease; when ill, one must inevitably seek a physician and take medicine. However, physicians are sometimes difficult to find, and medicines can be expensive at times. The wealthy naturally have no worry about this, but the poor often face the anxiety of having their hands tied. For the sake of convenience, nothing is better than single-herb prescriptions (Danfang). Single-herb prescriptions are numerous, so selection should be precise. If the prescription indeed matches the syndrome, the medicine will cure the disease upon administration, making a physician unnecessary. In my youth, I saw people keeping good prescriptions secret and not passing them down to the world, which I secretly despised. Therefore, I made a vow to seek them extensively, sparing no effort. Some were found in ancient and modern records, others obtained through hearsay from relatives and friends, all of which I copied by hand. Over time, the collection became very rich, covering all categories. I then deleted those that were not sufficiently effective, duplicates, or contained expensive herbs that could not be readily acquired. What remains today aims for the principle: where there is a disease, there is a prescription; where there is a prescription, there are the necessary herbs. Moreover, there are prescriptions that cost not a penny yet work miraculously. Even in the most remote and impoverished areas, or places inaccessible by horse or boat, they can be prepared hastily and produce results instantly. This heartfelt desire to save the world has driven me to proofread tirelessly, day and night, for about twenty years. My colleagues, seeing this, believed it worthy of transmission to posterity, so they raised funds to have it printed, recording the origin here. Any future acquisitions will await subsequent editions.
Bao Xiangao, Selected in Wuxuan, Western Guangxi, during the mid-spring month of Bingwu year of the Daoguang era.

The saying goes: "If a physician has not practiced for three generations, do not take his medicine." The reason for not taking medicine lightly is also the fear that the prescription may not be effective. If there is an empirically verified prescription and it meets a compatible syndrome, failing to spread it widely to help others is not in accordance with the virtue of cherishing life. However, ancient authors usually focused on a single topic. For instance, *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Tong Ren Jing* (Bronze Man Scripture) discuss acupuncture and moxibustion; *Zhi Ge* and *Biao Ben Re Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) discuss cold damage; *Wei Sheng Zong Wei Lun Fang* (General Micro Discussion on Health Preservation) records pediatrics; *Wei Ji Bao Shu* (Precious Book for Protecting Life) examines carbuncles and back sores; *Da Quan Liang Fang* (Great Complete Good Prescriptions) records gynecology; *Mai Jue Kan Wu* (Correction of Errors in Pulse Rhymes) details meridians; and figures like Wu Youxing and Lu Zhiyi, some specializing in treating malaria, all focused on one branch and could not integrate comprehensively. Only Zhang Zhongjing's *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), with its twenty-five chapters, serves as the ancestor of 262 miscellaneous diseases, yet rare copies exist in the world, and few have seen it. Others, such as Ge Hong's *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* (Handbook of Prescriptions Ke备 for Emergencies), although divided into fifty-three categories, have brief discussions, leading people to doubt them. Chao Yuanfang discussed *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Symptoms of All Diseases) but did not include prescriptions, thus still insufficient for credibility. Dong Ji's work (referenced as *Lv She*..., likely referring to emergency texts like *Bo Ai Xin Jian*) was sufficient for emergencies, but its medication methods were sometimes incomprehensible, seeming imperfect. Only Wang Tao's *Wai Tai Mi Yao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Academy), which discusses theory before listing prescriptions, deeply [understood medical principles], and Wang Gun selected the essence from over seven thousand family-prescribed formulas to create *Bo Ji Fang* (Universal Relief Prescriptions), which proved universally effective, aligning perfectly with this method. *Lei Zheng Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang* (Categorized General Relief Essential Capable Prescriptions), Wu Yankui's *Chuan Xin Shi Yong Fang* (Prescriptions Confirmed for Practical Use), Satumusu's *Rui Zhu Tang Fang* (Rui Zhu Hall Prescriptions), and Wei Yilin's *Shi Yi De Xiao Fang* (Effective Prescriptions of Medical Experts) were all written based on personal experience and verification, forming the basis of these compassionate chapters, hence named "Verified Prescriptions." Although erudition may not surpass Zhu Gong's *Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang*, the content collected here is as abundant as the state-commissioned *Yi Zong Jin Jian* (Golden Mirror of Medicine). In remote areas where large volumes are hard to obtain, having this book prevents being misled by quacks. Since the name implies "verified," many have experienced it, leaving no doubt for users. Previously, Pan of Shan Hua wrote a preface comparing it to *Su Shen Liang Fang*. When reprinted in the Jiazi year of the Tongzhi era, Feng's preface compared it to Sun Simiao's *Qian Jin Fang* (Thousand Gold Formulas), highlighting its profound value. However, old plates deteriorated over time, and reprintings often contained errors, hindering wide dissemination and credibility. Regarding ophthalmic books for scholars, orders were given to print them together. Supplementary prescriptions imitate Xu Yongcheng's *Yu Ji Wei Yi* (Subtle Meanings of the Jade Machine), placing Tianshi's works at the beginning of the added prescriptions. The original sixteen volumes plus eight new ones make the compilation richer. Upon completion, colleagues requested a preface. Though unskilled, since my youth, I loved Traditional Chinese Medicine. During storms and hardships, when scholars suffered from fatigue and illness, I paid closer attention. Indeed, without reading, one cannot treat symptoms; without clinical practice, [one cannot understand] theories. Those who asked about this were often told it was difficult. But with this text, even without prior extensive study, one can grasp the essentials, making recovery easier. Nevertheless, I hope people restrain anger and desires so that diseases do not arise, and [this book] cannot guarantee total absence of illness. If this book supports them, violence will be eliminated invisibly, and the common people will live in peace. This is what Xiao Ke meant. Thus, the preface.
Written and inscribed by Mei Qizhao, Envoy to Zhejiang, in the second month of the year Zhe Yong She Ti Ge (1878).