李培生
名老中医经验集目录
精勤博学的伤寒学家李培生
李家庚李家康整理
编者按：李培生教授是我国著名的伤寒学专家，著述丰硕，曾多次主编全国中医药院校伤寒论教材及其教学参考书，并著有《柯氏伤寒论翼笺正》等三部伤寒学专著，公开发表学术论文８０余篇。本文对李氏在伤寒学术研究上的成果进行了全面的总结，对若干伤寒学术研究中的问题提出了独到的见解，确属发前人所未发。对其学宗仲景、旁及百家的治学态度和其“博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之”的治学方法进行了详细介绍。李氏读书注重源流，探幽索微，教学中对六经辨证的实质强调多种学说的综合应用研究和密切联系临床实际，提出了六经辨证十法，论述了六经之病与证的关系，辨析了六经证治之异同及常与变，探讨了合病与并病的五种证治规律、六经证候的传变及标本学说的临床应用、伤寒与杂病的关系、伤寒与温病的关系等等。
李培生教授家学渊源，且谦逊好学，除自幼精勤博览，师事百家外，并曾遥从上海近代名医恽铁樵先生函授学习，深得其传。不仅治学严谨，在中医各科基础理论方面功底深厚，卓有建树，而且是一位医德高尚、医术精湛的临床学家。他从事中医临床工作迄今已６０余年，一生奉行“精”、“诚”二字，积累了极为宝贵的临床经验，擅长于脏腑辨证，对内、妇、儿科疾病，疗效确切，每起沉疴，深受患者爱戴。本文从１０个方面对李氏的临证特色结合具体案例进行了深入浅出的总结，并介绍了李氏常用验方五首，用药平正通达，剂小效宏，颇能启迪读者心智。
骐骥一跃，不能十步；驽马十驾，功在不舍。锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂。
———荀子《劝学》李培生，字佐辅，湖北汉阳人，１９１４年１月１日生。世以医为业。父亲李席之系前清邑庠生，通晓诗文，精通医理，善治内、妇科杂病，名噪一方。李氏幼承庭训，６岁起从父习文，诵读《四书》、《五经》类，兼读医学启蒙书，如《濒湖脉学》、《医学三字经》等。年岁稍长，即攻读《昭明文选》、《古文辞类纂》等文史书籍。因家学熏陶，立志于医，其父始授以医学经典，旁及各科。
第三卷１５７１５岁时其父病逝，便独自悬壶于汉阳古城，此期间一面济世行医，一面自修深造，并遥从上海名医恽铁樵先生受业，时达两年。抗战爆发后，武汉沦陷，避难返乡，受聘于汉阳官桥李家集安怀堂药店坐堂行医，外感、内伤、妇人、小儿诸疾，无所不治。李氏治病，效力专宏，勿论贵贱长幼，一律平等，待人谦和，仁慈博爱，四方以疾迎候者，几无虚日，遇人邀诊，无不即往，虽雨雪载途，亦不为止。建国初期，李氏曾在汉阳索河联合诊所与柏林联合诊所供职，负责中医诊疗业务。１９５７年被推荐到湖北省中医进修学校（湖北中医学院前身）系统学习中医基础理论一年，以优异成绩留校任教。先后担任过《内经》、《温病学》、《内科学》、《伤寒论》等学科的教学工作。
李氏学术思想主要渊源于《内经》、《难经》、《本草经》、《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》等中医古典医籍，明清八大家的临床书籍如喻嘉言的《医门法律》、李士材的《医宗必读》、李时珍的《本草纲目》、张景岳的《景岳全书》、张石顽的《医通》、叶天士的《临证指南医案》等对其也有深刻影响。
李氏治学勤勉，学识渊博，熟知中医经典，尤其对于《伤寒论》的研究，殚精竭虑，不遗余力。他认为《伤寒论》之重要贡献在于把外感疾病错综复杂的证候及其演变加以总结，提出了较为完整的六经辨证论治理论体系，是我国第一部理法方药较为完备的医学著作，不仅为诊治外感疾病提出了辨证纲领和治疗方法，而且也给中医临床各科提供了辨证和治疗的一般规律。书中所载方药，尤其是许多常用的有效方剂，经过长期的实践考验，至今在临床仍行之有效，有些方剂正成为中西医结合研究的课题，并取得许多成果。对伤寒学术的研究，他主张突出辨证论治这一重大主题。他说六经辨证的主要依据来源于六经中病、脉、证、治等方面，故《伤寒论》每篇首载有“辨某某病脉证并治”。六经病证，是六经所属脏腑经络的病理及反映于临床的各种证候，因此综合病之部位、性质、病机、病势等加以分析、归纳，辨为某经病证，进而厘定其有效的治法和方药，此乃《伤寒论》的主要内容，也是辨证论治的重要依据。研究过程中须围绕这一中心进行，但又不以此为局限。由于《伤寒论》在中医学术上的重要地位，历代伤寒注家繁多，迄今为止不下数百家，仁智之见互异，学者当有所侧重。李氏认为伤寒研究的首要关键，还是在于忠实大论原文，逐字逐句弄通其原义，根据自己的实际体会，结合前人的经验，然后综合分析，深刻理解，融会贯通，提出问题，解决问题，才能有所发明，有所创新。他提倡博览群书，师事百家，取人之长，补己之短，不持门户之见。对于西医学术，他也主张兼蓄并存，以现代科学技术和方法来研究、发展中医。
读万卷书，行万里路，学好中医，重在实践。李氏认为：一个中医学者，既是书生，又是医生。书生：必多读书，多写书，能由博返约，食能消化；医生：就要学以致用，服务于临床，替群众解除疾苦。他擅长中医内科，兼通妇、儿科。临床研究方面，重视辨证论治和方药的研究；诊疗疾病，重视慢性咳嗽、慢性泄泻、胃脘痛、肝炎、肝硬化、冠心病、心律失常、尿路感染的研究；处方用药，长用经方，惯用时方，并结合实践，创制出不少新方，用药简练，轻灵平稳，慎用补益、温燥、毒烈及苦寒败胃之剂，但用药依据总以脉证为凭。有人谓李氏用药以量小著称，其谓“治方有大小，病势有缓急，药量有轻重。古人谓病大药大，病毒药毒，为人医者，岂能滥投虎狼之剂，而称道耶！”他赞赏近代名医施今墨、冉雪峰等人的用药特点，以为药量不大，方不见奇，而有良效。感叹当今之士，处方用药，动辄三五十克，或以为胆大，殊不知误人之迹甚多，且造成中药材的浪费。因此他在临证时，无问大小缓急之剂，当用则用，不畏其峻；不当用则不用，而不以轻剂为敷衍藏拙。
李氏著述丰富，撰有《柯氏伤寒论翼笺正》、《柯氏伤寒附翼笺正》、《柯氏伤寒论注疏正》；受第三卷１５８卫生部委托，主编全国高等医药院校试用教材《伤寒论选续》、全国高等医药院校教材《伤寒论讲义》、全国高等中医院校函授教材《伤寒论讲义》、全国高等医药院校《教学参考丛书·伤寒论》、全国西医学习中医教材《伤寒论》；并在《中医杂志》、《新中医》、《湖北中医杂志》、《贵阳中医学院学报》等杂志发表医学论文８０余篇。
《柯氏伤寒论翼笺正》、《柯氏伤寒附翼笺正》、《柯氏伤寒论注疏正》是李氏的代表作。上三书分别于１９６５年、１９８８年、１９９５年由人民卫生出版社出版。作者认为清·柯琴（韵伯）的《伤寒来苏集》（包括《伤寒论翼》）、《伤寒附翼》、《伤寒论注》）有许多独到见解，学术上有研究价值，历代医家都很推崇它，是一本研究《伤寒论》的重要参考书。然因当时条件，属文间有偏激，大醇之中不无小疵。故于公余之暇，见其议论明畅，说理入微，能发人所未发者，必力为表彰之；文字晦涩，义理难明，细循其说，又确有见地，不惜多方疏通而证明之；间有不合事实，势不能辗转附会者，不揣愚蒙而僭为正之（《柯氏伤寒论翼笺正·自序》）。该书以艺海珠尘丛书本《伤寒论翼》、《伤寒附翼》、《伤寒论注》为蓝本，于原书内容精湛部分，而有晦涩难懂的或理论不够完整的，则加以发挥，用“笺”（或“疏”）字标出；如理论与事实不合的，则用“正”字标出；如某个段落中既需要有所发挥，又要加以辨正的，则用“笺正”两字标出；原文间有错字，根据多种版本校正，附注于旁；如各本皆一致，而显然有误者，亦注明于后，但原文不动，以昭慎重。其“笺正”与“疏正”部分，为李氏数十年来教学临床之心得，对于当前学习和研究《伤寒论》以及中医学术，均有参考价值。
李氏在湖北中医学院任教３０余年，先后为《伤寒论》专业的教学和临床培养进修生、函授生、本、专科学生、研究生、西学中人才数千。他常教导学生，在学业上要“博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之”。并说：“弟不必不如师，师不必贤于弟子，学生应该超过老师，中医事业才会兴旺发达，传统医学才会后继有人。”在他培养的研究生中，而今大多数已成为博士、教授、研究员，有的还被国外某些大学机构聘为客座教授。他也曾多次被邀请到广东、陕西、贵州、湖南、江西等地讲学；卫生部几次主办“全国伤寒师资班”，皆委他以主讲的重任。１９７８年中医学院首次技术职称评定中，他被评为副教授，１９８０年晋升为教授。１９８７年被评为湖北省教育战线劳动模范，１９８９年被评为全国优秀教师，１９９１年被评为国家级有突出贡献的专家，享受国务院颁发的政府特殊津贴。
“老夫喜作黄昏颂，满目青山夕照明”。李氏年逾八旬，但他人老不服老，除肩负培养学生和带徒的任务外，仍然坚持每周多次的门诊，为广大患者服务，深得病人的敬仰和信赖。现在他仍保持每天清晨早读、学术上精勤劳作、笔耕不辍的习惯，立志在有生之年，奉献更多的余热。
学术精华
一、精勤博览师事百家李氏常言，古今之大学问家，凡以仁术称世者，无不强调道德修养，注重“精”“诚”二字，第三卷１５９“精”即技术精湛、“诚”乃医德高尚，为人医者，两者缺一不可。青少年时代，他的一半时间是在汉阳城区度过的，那时其家庭环境异常艰苦，却正是艰苦的环境磨炼了他的意志。白天外出应诊，晚间挑灯夜读，手不释卷。寒冬酷暑，从无间断。真可谓“焚膏油以继晷，恒兀兀以穷年。”除了家中的书，他还经常借书读，并常过江到武昌湖北省图书馆阅读或抄写医籍，有时还写信到上海等地求购医书。若行医在外时遇有珍、善本医书，常不惜以重金购买。
李氏读书的方法是：基本书籍反复读，实用书籍重点读。基本书籍：如《素问》、《灵枢》、《难经》、《本草经》、《伤寒论》、《金匮要略》、《脉经》、《本草从新》、《医宗金鉴》、《温病条辨》、《温热经纬》等。李氏认为像必反复熟读，其中重点内容，要能熟练地背诵，不但初学者应如此，即使从医多年者也不可有半点松懈。实用书籍，像当时民间流传的明清八大家的临床书籍，如喻嘉言的《医门法律》，孙文垣的《赤水玄珠》，李士材的《医宗必读》，李时珍的《本草纲目》，张景岳的《景岳全书》，张石顽的《医通》，叶天士的《临证指南医案》，尤在泾的《金匮翼》等，既有理论方面的丰富知识，又有临床方面的实用价值，须重点阅读，至于薛立斋、冯兆张等人的书籍，因观点偏颇，或价值一般，故作一般阅读即可。又由于某些中医临床书籍篇幅甚繁，故学习时还可以采取重点阅读的方法。举例言之，如喻嘉言论秋燥，李士材谈泄泻，张石顽谈时疫，尤在泾论中风治法等，其立言有据，观点鲜明，切合实用，应当精读。有些书籍，如巢氏《病源》、《千金要方》、《千金翼方》、《外台秘要》，以及金元四大家等医学名著，因博大精深，则应在学好中医基础之后，再反复研读。另尚有些中医小本书籍，如吴又可的《温疫论》，葛可久的《十药神书》，张山雷的《中风诊》，王洪绪的《外科证治全生集》，沈尧封的《女科辑要》，王孟英的《霍乱论》，谢朴斋的《麻科活人书》，丘在田的《福幼篇》等，其专科性质颇强，或确有独到之处，亦应研读。此外，多阅读古人医案，如江篁南的《名医类案》，魏之的《续名医类案》，俞东扶的《古今医案按》等，都是前人实践中得来的经验，应认真学习，汲取精髓。
读中医书，不仅要眼到、口到，而且要脑到、手到。眼到、口到：是仔细阅读，辅以背诵；脑到：是将读过的内容反复思考，充分理解，加深记忆，司马迁所谓“好学深思，心知其意”是也；手到：是勤做笔记，略有心得，则眉批于字里行间；获一良方，辄记录于薄页，既备他日问难之资料，又为自习之章本，于临证、写作殊有妙用。
Li Peisheng
Collected Experience of Famous Senior TCM Practitioners Directory
Li Peisheng, a Diligent and Erudite Scholar of Shanghan (Cold Damage) Studies
Compiled by Li Jiageng and Li Jiekang
Editor's Note: Professor Li Peisheng is a renowned expert in the study of Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) in China. He has produced abundant scholarly works, served as chief editor for the Shanghan Lun textbooks and teaching reference books for national colleges of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) multiple times, and authored three monographs on Shanghan studies, including "Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Yi Jian Zheng" (Annotation and Correction of Ke Qin's Wings to the Treatise on Cold Damage). He has publicly published over 80 academic papers. This article comprehensively summarizes his achievements in Shanghan academic research, offering unique insights into several issues within this field, truly pioneering what predecessors had not yet discovered. It details his scholarly attitude of revering Zhang Zhongjing while drawing from diverse schools of thought, and his methodology of "studying extensively, questioning carefully, thinking deeply, distinguishing clearly, and practicing earnestly." Professor Li emphasizes tracing the origins and exploring subtle details in his reading. In teaching, he stresses the comprehensive application of various theories regarding the essence of Six Meridians Syndrome Differentiation (Liu Jing Bian Zheng) and its close connection with clinical practice. He proposed ten methods for Six Meridians differentiation, discussed the relationship between diseases and syndromes of the six meridians, analyzed the similarities and differences as well as constancy and variability in their diagnosis and treatment, explored five patterns of diagnosis and treatment for Combined Disease (He Bing) and Concurrent Disease (Bing Bing), the transmission of Six Meridians syndromes, the clinical application of Root and Branch theory, the relationship between Shanghan and miscellaneous diseases, and the relationship between Shanghan and Warm Diseases (Wen Bing).
Professor Li Peisheng comes from a family with deep medical traditions and is humble and eager to learn. Besides diligent and extensive reading since childhood and learning from various masters, he also studied via correspondence with Yun Tieqiao, a famous modern physician in Shanghai, deeply inheriting his teachings. Not only is he rigorous in scholarship with profound foundations and outstanding contributions in basic theories of various TCM disciplines, but he is also a clinician of high medical ethics and exquisite skills. Having engaged in TCM clinical work for over 60 years, he has adhered throughout his life to the principles of "precision" and "sincerity," accumulating extremely valuable clinical experience. He excels in Zang-Fu Organ Syndrome Differentiation, achieving definite curative effects in internal, gynecological, and pediatric diseases, often rescuing patients from severe illnesses (Chen Ke), and is deeply loved by his patients. This article summarizes Professor Li's clinical characteristics from ten aspects, combined with specific cases, in an accessible manner, and introduces five commonly used effective formulas of his. His medication is balanced and thorough, with small dosages yielding significant effects, greatly inspiring readers' minds.
"A fine steed may leap once but cannot cover ten paces; a poor horse driving for ten days achieves success through perseverance. To carve and give up, even rotten wood will not break; to carve without giving up, metal and stone can be engraved."
— Xunzi, "Encouraging Learning"
Li Peisheng, courtesy name Zuofu, was born in Hanyang, Hubei, on January 1, 1914. His family has been engaged in medicine for generations. His father, Li Xizhi, was a provincial school student during the late Qing Dynasty, proficient in poetry and prose, and an expert in medical principles, skilled in treating miscellaneous internal and gynecological diseases, gaining fame in the region. Li received family training from a young age, studying literature starting at age six, reciting classics such as the "Four Books" and "Five Classics," and simultaneously reading introductory medical texts like "Binhu Pulse Studies" and "Three Characters Classic of Medicine." As he grew older, he studied historical and literary works such as "Selections of Refined Literature" and "Anthology of Classical Prose." Influenced by his family's scholarly tradition, he resolved to pursue medicine. His father then taught him medical classics and other disciplines.
Volume III, Page 157 At age 15, his father passed away, and he began practicing independently in the ancient city of Hanyang. During this period, he served the public through medical practice while self-studying and advancing his knowledge, and continued correspondence studies under Master Yun Tieqiao in Shanghai for two years. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War and the fall of Wuhan, he took refuge in his hometown and was hired to practice at Anhuitang Pharmacy in Guanjiao, Lijiaji, Hanyang. He treated all kinds of exogenous pathogen diseases, internal injuries, women's diseases, and pediatric disorders. His treatments were highly effective; regardless of social status or age, he treated everyone equally. He was modest, kind, and benevolent. Patients from all directions came to seek his help almost every day. Whenever invited to consult, he would go immediately, even if roads were covered in snow or rain. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic, Li worked at the Suhe Joint Clinic and Bolin Joint Clinic in Hanyang, responsible for TCM diagnostic and treatment services. In 1957, he was recommended to the Hubei Provincial School of TCM Advancement (the predecessor of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine) to systematically study TCM basic theories for one year. With excellent results, he stayed to teach. He successively taught subjects such as "Neijing" (Inner Canon), "Wenbingxue" (Study of Warm Diseases), "Neikexue" (Internal Medicine), and "Shanghan Lun."
Li's academic thoughts mainly originated from classical TCM medical texts such as "Neijing," "Nanjing," "Bencao Jing" (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), "Shanghan Lun," and "Jingui Yaolue." Clinical books by the Eight Masters of the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Yu Jiayan's "Yimen Falü" (Medical Laws and Principles), Li Shicai's "Yizong Bidu" (Must-Read for Medical Ancestors), Li Shizhen's "Bencao Gangmu" (Compendium of Materia Medica), Zhang Jingyue's "Jingyue Quanshu" (Complete Works of Jingyue), Zhang Shiweng's "Yitong" (General Discussion on Medicine), and Ye Tianshi's "Linzheng Zhinan Yi'an" (Clinical Guide to Medical Cases), also had a profound impact on him.
Li was diligent in scholarship and erudite, familiar with TCM classics, especially dedicating himself tirelessly to the study of "Shanghan Lun." He believed that the important contribution of "Shanghan Lun" lies in summarizing the complex syndromes and their evolution of exogenous diseases, proposing a relatively complete theoretical system of Six Meridians syndrome differentiation and treatment. It is the first medical work in China with a relatively complete integration of principles, methods, formulas, and herbs. It not only provided a diagnostic framework and treatment methods for exogenous diseases but also offered general laws for diagnosis and treatment across various TCM clinical disciplines. The formulas and herbs recorded in the book, especially many commonly used effective formulas, have stood the test of long-term practice and remain effective in clinical settings today. Some formulas are becoming subjects of integrated Chinese and Western medicine research, achieving many results. Regarding Shanghan academic research, he advocated highlighting the major theme of syndrome differentiation and treatment. He stated that the main basis for Six Meridians differentiation comes from the disease, pulse, syndrome, and treatment aspects of the six meridians; thus, each chapter of "Shanghan Lun" begins with "Differentiating the Pulse, Syndrome, and Treatment of [Certain] Disease." The diseases and syndromes of the six meridians refer to the pathology of the zang-fu organs and meridians belonging to the six meridians and the various syndromes reflected clinically. Therefore, by comprehensively analyzing and summarizing the location, nature, pathogenesis, and trend of the disease, one differentiates it as a disease-syndrome of a certain meridian, and subsequently determines effective treatment methods and formulas. This is the main content of "Shanghan Lun" and an important basis for syndrome differentiation and treatment. Research must revolve around this center but not be limited by it. Due to the important status of "Shanghan Lun" in TCM academia, there have been numerous commentators throughout history, numbering hundreds, with differing views. Scholars should have their own focus. Li believed that the key to Shanghan research remains fidelity to the original text, understanding its original meaning word by word, combining personal practical experience with predecessors' experiences, then conducting comprehensive analysis, deep understanding, and integration, raising and solving problems to achieve innovation. He advocated reading widely, learning from various masters, taking others' strengths to complement one's weaknesses, and not holding sectarian views. Regarding Western medicine, he also advocated coexistence, using modern scientific technology and methods to research and develop TCM.
Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles; learning TCM well relies on practice. Li believed: A TCM scholar is both a student and a doctor. As a student: One must read and write much, being able to distill the essence from the vast, digesting knowledge like food; As a doctor: One must apply learning to practice, serve clinically, and relieve the suffering of the masses. He specialized in TCM internal medicine and was also proficient in gynecology and pediatrics. In clinical research, he valued syndrome differentiation and treatment and the study of formulas and herbs. In diagnosing and treating diseases, he focused on chronic cough, chronic diarrhea, epigastric pain, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and urinary tract infections. In prescribing, he frequently used classical formulas (Jing Fang) and modern formulas (Shi Fang), and combined practice to create many new formulas. His medication was concise, light, agile, and stable. He cautiously used tonifying, warming-drying, toxic-potent, and bitter-cold stomach-damaging agents, but always based his medication on pulse and syndrome evidence. Some said Li was famous for small dosages. He said, "Formulas have large and small sizes; disease trends have slow and urgent natures; drug dosages have heavy and light weights. The ancients said 'big disease requires big drugs, poisonous viruses require poisonous drugs.' How can a physician indiscriminately administer tiger-wolf-like potent agents and praise them?" He admired the medication characteristics of modern famous physicians like Shi Jinmo and Ran Xuefeng, believing that although dosages were not large, the formulas were not extraordinary, they yielded good effects. He lamented that contemporary practitioners often prescribe 30-50 grams per herb, perhaps considering it bold, unaware that it leads to many errors and wastes Chinese medicinal materials. Therefore, in clinical practice, whether using large or small, slow or urgent formulas, he used them when appropriate, fearing no potency; when inappropriate, he did not use them, nor did he敷衍 (perfunctorily use) mild formulas to hide deficiencies.
Li had rich publications, authoring "Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Yi Jian Zheng," "Ke Shi Shanghan Fu Yi Jian Zheng," and "Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Zhu Shu Zheng." Commissioned by the Ministry of Health, he edited trial textbooks for national higher medical colleges "Selected Continuation of Shanghan Lun," textbooks "Lecture Notes on Shanghan Lun," correspondence textbooks "Lecture Notes on Shanghan Lun," teaching reference series "Shanghan Lun," and textbooks for Western doctors learning TCM "Shanghan Lun." He also published over 80 medical papers in journals such as "Chinese Journal of TCM," "New TCM," "Hubei Journal of TCM," and "Journal of Guiyang College of TCM."
"Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Yi Jian Zheng," "Ke Shi Shanghan Fu Yi Jian Zheng," and "Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Zhu Shu Zheng" are Li's representative works. The above three books were published by People's Medical Publishing House in 1965, 1988, and 1995, respectively. The author believes that Qing dynasty Ke Qin (Yunbo)'s "Shanghan Lansu Ji" (including "Shanghan Lun Yi"), "Shanghan Fu Yi," and "Shanghan Lun Zhu" contain many unique insights and have academic research value. Physicians of past dynasties highly praised it, making it an important reference book for studying "Shanghan Lun." However, due to conditions at the time, some writings were extreme, and amidst great purity, there were minor flaws. Thus, in his spare time, seeing his discussions clear and reasoning meticulous, capable of expressing what others had not, he vigorously highlighted them; where text was obscure and meaning hard to understand, but upon careful following, indeed had insight, he spared no effort to clarify and prove it; occasionally encountering statements inconsistent with facts that could not be forced to fit, he presumptuously corrected them (Preface to "Ke Shi Shanghan Lun Yi Jian Zheng"). This book used the Yihai Zhuchen collection edition of "Shanghan Lun Yi," "Shanghan Fu Yi," and "Shanghan Lun Zhu" as the blueprint. For parts of the original text that were exquisite but obscure or theoretically incomplete, he elaborated, marking them with "Jian" (or "Shu"); where theory conflicted with fact, he marked them with "Zheng"; where a paragraph needed both elaboration and correction, he marked them with "Jian Zheng"; occasional typos in the original text were corrected based on multiple editions and noted beside them; if all editions agreed but were obviously wrong, he noted it afterwards, but left the original text unchanged to show caution. His "Jian Zheng" and "Shu Zheng" sections represent his decades of teaching and clinical insights, providing reference value for current study and research of "Shanghan Lun" and TCM academia.
Li taught at Hubei University of Chinese Medicine for over 30 years, cultivating thousands of advanced students, correspondence students, undergraduate and junior college students, graduate students, and Western-trained TCM talents for the "Shanghan Lun" major. He often taught students to "study extensively, question carefully, think deeply, distinguish clearly, and practice earnestly" in their studies. He said, "Students need not be inferior to teachers, nor teachers necessarily superior to students. Students should surpass teachers for the TCM cause to flourish and traditional medicine to have successors." Among the graduate students he cultivated, most have become doctors, professors, and researchers, and some have been appointed as guest professors by foreign university institutions. He was also invited multiple times to lecture in Guangdong, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, etc. The Ministry of Health hosted "National Shanghan Teacher Training Classes" several times, entrusting him with the main lecturing responsibility. In the first technical title evaluation of TCM colleges in 1978, he was rated as Associate Professor, and promoted to Professor in 1980. In 1987, he was rated as a Model Worker in Hubei Province's education front; in 1989, as a National Outstanding Teacher; in 1991, as a National Expert with Outstanding Contributions, enjoying the special government allowance issued by the State Council.
"I enjoy composing odes at dusk, with green mountains filling my eyes under the evening glow." Although over eighty years old, Li refuses to act his age. Besides bearing the task of cultivating students and apprentices, he still insists on multiple outpatient sessions weekly, serving the broad patient population, earning deep respect and trust. Now, he still maintains the habit of early morning reading, diligent academic work, and ceaseless writing, determined to contribute more warmth in his remaining years.
Academic Essence
I. Diligent and Extensive Reading, Learning from Various Masters
Li often said that great scholars of ancient and modern times, those known for benevolent arts, all emphasized moral cultivation, focusing on the words "precision" and "sincerity." "Precision" means exquisite technique; "Sincerity" means high medical ethics. For a practitioner, both are indispensable. In his youth, half his time was spent in Hanyang urban area. Although his family environment was extremely difficult, it was precisely this hardship that tempered his will. He went out for consultations during the day and studied by lamplight at night, never letting go of his books. Winter and summer, without interruption. Truly, "burning oil to continue the daylight, constantly working hard until the end of the year." Besides books at home, he often borrowed books to read and frequently crossed the river to Wuchang Hubei Provincial Library to read or copy medical texts, sometimes writing letters to Shanghai and other places to purchase medical books. If he encountered rare or good edition medical books while practicing elsewhere, he often spared no expense to buy them.
Li's method of reading was: repeatedly read basic books, focus on reading practical books. Basic books: such as "Suwen," "Lingshu," "Nanjing," "Bencao Jing," "Shanghan Lun," "Jingui Yaolue," "Maijing," "Bencao Congxin," "Yizong Jinjian," "Wenbing Tiaobian," "Wenre Jingwei," etc. Li believed these must be read repeatedly and熟读 (read thoroughly); key contents must be memorized proficiently. Not only beginners should do so, but even those who have practiced for many years should not relax in the slightest. Practical books, such as the clinical books of the Eight Masters of Ming and Qing circulated among the folk at that time, like Yu Jiayan's "Yimen Falü," Sun Wen Yuan's "Chishui Xuanzhu," Li Shicai's "Yizong Bidu," Li Shizhen's "Bencao Gangmu," Zhang Jingyue's "Jingyue Quanshu," Zhang Shiweng's "Yitong," Ye Tianshi's "Linzheng Zhinan Yi'an," You Zaijing's "Jingui Yi," etc., possess both rich theoretical knowledge and practical clinical value, requiring focused reading. As for books by Xue Lizhai, Feng Zhaozhang, etc., due to biased viewpoints or average value, general reading suffices. Furthermore, since some TCM clinical books are very voluminous, focused reading methods can be adopted during study. For example, Yu Jiayan's discussion on Autumn Dryness, Li Shicai's talk on diarrhea, Zhang Shiweng's talk on seasonal epidemics, You Zaijing's discussion on stroke treatment methods, etc., have solid grounds, clear viewpoints, and practical relevance, warranting intensive reading. Some books, such as Chao Yuanfang's "Bingyuan," Sun Simiao's "Qianjin Yaofang" and "Qianjin Yifang," Wang Tao's "Waitai Miyao," and the medical masterpieces of the Four Masters of Jin and Yuan, being profound and extensive, should be studied repeatedly after mastering TCM basics. Additionally, some small TCM specialty books, such as Wu Keyou's "Wenyi Lun," Ge Kejiu's "Shiyao Shenshu," Zhang Shanlei's "Zhongfeng Zhen," Wang Hongxu's "Waike Zhengzhi Quansheng Ji," Shen Yaofeng's "Nuke Jiyao," Wang Mengying's "Huoluan Lun," Xie Puzhai's "Maoke Huoren Shu," Qiu Zaitian's "Fuyou Pian," etc., having strong specialty nature or unique insights, should also be studied. In addition, reading many ancient medical cases, such as Jiang Huangnan's "Mingyi Leian," Wei Zhi's "Xu Mingyi Leian," Yu Dongfu's "Gujin Yi'an An," etc., which are experiences gained from predecessors' practice, should be seriously studied to absorb their essence.
Reading TCM books requires not only eye and mouth involvement but also brain and hand involvement. Eye and mouth: careful reading supplemented by recitation; Brain: repeatedly thinking over read content, fully understanding, deepening memory, as Sima Qian said, "Love learning and think deeply, knowing the meaning in the heart"; Hand: diligently taking notes, adding marginal comments when having slight insights; recording good formulas on thin pages, preparing materials for future inquiries and serving as chapters for self-study, which is particularly useful in clinical practice and writing.