典藏书目

Chunyanzi was a native of Chengtang in Shexian, named Zhenglun, with the courtesy name Zixu. His ancestors could be traced back to Fan Jun of the Han Dynasty and Mr. Shaowei of the Tang Dynasty.

His grandfather, Tingpei Jun, relocated to Shexian and became the founding ancestor of the Chengtang branch. Counting upwards from Chunyanzi, there have been twenty-nine generations. Chunyanzi was intelligent and agile in his youth, excelling in academic studies and having already passed the imperial examinations. Later, due to an eye ailment that prevented him from reading, he developed a greater fondness for the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and the medical works of Bian Que. He often memorized them secretly. Upon grasping even the general principles, he found them profound and irresistible. Coinciding with his grandfather, Laoshan Weng, urging him to achieve success, he collected and read all the classic texts such as *Suwen* (Basic Questions), *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), and the formulas and theories of famous physicians throughout history. He integrated their essentials, comprehending the mechanisms of Five Movements and Six Qi (Wuyun Liuqi), generation and restriction, transmission, and victory. He mastered diagnostic signs including pulse taking, color observation, listening to sounds, and examining physical forms, as well as treatments involving decoctions, sweet wines, sharp stones (Bianshi/stone lancets), ancient stretching exercises (Daoyin), massage techniques, and toxic moxibustion/warming therapies. Using these methods to treat patients, he often achieved miraculous results. Before reaching the age of twenty, he was already renowned as an excellent physician.

At that time, Lu Shengye from Wuxing was a leading master of the Qingnang art (medical skills) in the Jiangzuo region. Chunyanzi took his books to visit him. After three years, Lu Shengye taught him the five diagnoses and six signs, the upper and lower meridians, and the accumulation in the extraordinary collaterals. He thoroughly mastered the knowledge regarding acupoints. Subsequently, he traveled north through the Wu and Kuai regions, crossed the Yangtze River, followed the Huai River, and journeyed through Qilu and the Haishan areas. Wherever he went, his fame spread. Arriving at Qingquan, where many locals resided, he settled there. In another instance, someone purchased property in Guizhi, where a patient lay bedridden for a long time, unable to use their limbs, or suffering from urinary retention, heavy feet, amenorrhea in women, and chronic abscesses that failed to resolve. Chunyanzi palpated the pulses and found no signs of deterioration; he cured them immediately. He never showed discouragement when facing critical cases. People from near and far competed to invite him. Chunyanzi never displayed annoyance, nor did he slacken during extreme cold or heat.

By nature, he was honest, simple, and preferred to keep a low profile. He once wore coarse cloth garments, living quietly among the villagers. When contemporary physicians' skills began to gain slight recognition, they competed to ride in high carriages and fine horses, showing off, while their disciples worked tirelessly without specific goals. Hearing that wealthy families had疑难 diseases (difficult illnesses) where groups of physicians were panicked and unsure how to proceed, he would slowly rise, observe the complexion, and treat the Du Meridian (Governing Vessel). Within one cycle (seven days or a treatment course), effects were evident, and everyone considered him divine. During leisurely interactions, he spoke haltingly, appearing almost unable to speak, but when discussing the causes of diseases, citing classics and evidence, he could talk for days without redundant words. His clinical practice on the desk was not vastly different from others, but when encountering rare diseases, his manipulation and coordination were precise, like a general commanding troops with divine strategy and changeability. People then began to realize he was beyond their reach.

He valued ethics and order throughout his life. He served his mother, Madam Jiang, with utmost filial piety and love, treating his brothers equally, keeping not even a grain of food for himself. Madam Jiang loved him specially because of his filial piety. In social interactions, he kept his promises made in haste, never breaking them. People respected him even more for this. He often said, "I have heard from past sages that nourishing people begins with the five flavors and five grains, followed by the five medicines, so that the six diseases and six qi cannot invade each other, and the people rarely suffer from ailments." He advocated that treating disease before it occurs is superior to treating it after onset. Therefore, he compiled this book, titled *Yangsheng Leyao* (Essentials of Health Preservation).

The Wanderer (Manke) says: Reading the records of Grand Historian Sima Qian, I see dozens of accounts of state physicians curing numerous diseases with miraculous responses. People exchanged prescription books, gaining fame and shining in their times, leaving legacies. Yet, none achieved results without the 'mingxuan' reaction (a severe initial reaction to strong medicine indicating cure). The concept of treating disease before it arises seems rarely heard of beforehand. Is it truly difficult for those who are cautious about illness? Wang Fu stated: "Those who treat diseases must first know the sequence of pulses and the knotting of qi, then prescribe formulas, so diseases can be cured and longevity extended. Those who govern states must first know the people's suffering and the origin of disasters, then establish prohibitions, so evil can be blocked and the state secured. Even with good prescriptions and prohibitions, which is better: allowing qi to knot and disasters to originate, or preventing them?" Thus it is said, the highest doctor treats the state. This is indeed the purpose of Chunyanzi's writing. As my son prepares to travel to the capital, I narrate this biography so that those who encounter Chunyanzi may understand.