一、医道自《灵》、《素》、《难经》而下，首推仲景，以其为制方之祖也。然仲景论伤寒
而温热、温疫之旨有未畅。河间论温热及温疫，而于内伤有未备。东垣详论内伤，发补中
、枳术等论，卓识千古，而于阴虚之内伤，尚有缺焉。朱丹溪从而广之，发阳常有余、阴常
不足之论，以补前贤所未及，而医道亦大全矣。夫复何言？不知四子之书，合之则见其全，
分之即见其偏。兹集兼总四家，而会通其微意，以各适于用，则庶乎其不偏耳。
一、虚火、实火之别，相隔霄壤。虚火可补，实火可泻，若误治之，祸如反掌。兹以内
出者为子火，外至者为贼火，分别虚实，以定补泻，似千古晦义，一旦昭然，而于对症用药
之间，有画沙印泥之趣。
一、凡病，不外寒热、虚实、表里、阴阳。兹特着为辨论，约之则在指掌之中，推之可
应无穷之变，学人宜究心焉。
一、医门论治，本有八法，而方书或言五法，或言六法，时医更执偏见，各用一二法，
自以为是，遂至治不如法，轻病转重，重病转危，而终则至于无法，大可伤也。予故着为
医门八法，反复详论，俾业医者，沉酣于八法之中，将以扶危定倾，庶几其有活法矣。
一、伤寒门，古称三百九十七法，一百一十三方，尚不能尽其变。遂谓仲景《伤寒论》
非全书，而予独以四字论括之，何其简也？不思伤寒只此表、里、寒、热四字，由四字而敷
为八句，伤寒实无余蕴。夫伤寒有表寒，有里寒，有表热，有里热，有表里皆热，有表里皆
寒，有表寒里热，有表热里寒。精乎此，非惟三百九十七法，一百一十三方可坐而得，即千
变万化亦皆范围于其中。予读仲景书十数年，颇有心得，因着伤寒四字论，以为后学津梁云
析清楚，纲举目张，辩论详明，毫无蒙混，治伤寒者，取则乎此，可渐登仲景之堂而入其室
一、中风寒热之别，实因乎人之脏腑为转移，从此勘破，则清凉温热之剂，各当其可，
而古今之疑团以释。
一、风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火，天之六气也。六气相杂，互相为病，最宜细辨。若概指
为伤寒，投以散剂，为害实甚，不可不慎于其初。
一、杂症各有内伤、外感之不同，须从此分别，则治法不至混淆，而取效神速。
一、女人之病，多于男子，因其有行经、胎、产等事也。且性情多郁，尤易生病，故治
法另有变通。兹特详着于后，其与男子同病者不载，特载其不同者而已。非缺也。
一、医学之道自《黄帝内经·灵枢》、《素问》及《难经》之后，首推张仲景，因为他是创制方剂的始祖。然而，张仲景主要论述伤寒病，对于温热病和温疫病的宗旨阐述得不够详尽。刘河间（刘完素）论述了温热病及温疫病，但在内伤病方面有所欠缺。李东垣详细论述了内伤病，发表了《补中益气汤论》、《枳术丸论》等卓识千古的见解，但对于阴虚类型的内伤病，仍有缺失。朱丹溪在此基础上加以扩充，提出了“阳常有余，阴常不足”的理论，以弥补前贤所未涉及之处，至此医学之道可谓完备无缺了。还有什么可说的呢？只是不知道这四位医家的著作，合起来看才能见到其全貌，分开看则各自显露出片面性。本集兼收并蓄四家之长，融会贯通其精微之意，使各种治法都能适用于临床，这样或许就不会偏颇了。
二、虚火与实火的区别，相差如天地之远。虚火可以用补法治疗，实火可以用泻法治疗，如果误治，祸患如在反掌之间迅速发生。这里将内生之火称为子火，外感之火称为贼火，分别辨别虚实，以确定采用补法还是泻法，似乎让千古以来晦涩难懂的义理，一旦变得昭然若揭，而在对症用药之间，有着如画沙印泥般清晰确切的趣味。
三、凡是疾病，不外乎寒、热、虚、实、表、里、阴、阳八纲。这里特别著文进行辨析论述，概括起来就在指掌之间（容易掌握），推演开来可以应对无穷的变化，学习的人应当用心研究。
四、医门论治，本来有汗、吐、下、和、温、清、消、补八种治法，但方书有的说五种治法，有的说六种治法，当时的医生更执着于偏见，各自只使用一两法，自以为是，导致治疗不符合规范，轻病转为重病，重病转为危症，最终甚至无药可施，这非常令人痛心。所以我著述《医门八法》，反复详细论述，使从事医疗工作的人沉浸于八法之中，将来能够扶持危局、安定倾覆，或许就有救活的办法了。
五、伤寒一门，古称有三百九十七法，一百一十三方，尚不能完全穷尽其变化。于是有人谓张仲景的《伤寒论》不是全书，而我唯独用四个字来概括它，岂不是很简略吗？不思考伤寒病只有表、里、寒、热这四个字，由这四个字推演为八种情况（表寒、里寒、表热、里热、表里皆热、表里皆寒、表寒里热、表热里寒），伤寒其实没有剩余的蕴意了。精通于此，不仅三百九十七法和一百一十三方可以坐而得之，即使千变万化也都在其中涵盖。我研读仲景之书十余年，颇有心得，因此著成《伤寒四字论》，作为后学者的津梁（引导）。分析清楚，纲举目张，辩论详明，毫无蒙混，治疗伤寒者，取法于此，可以逐渐登堂入室，进入张仲景的境界。
六、中风病中寒证与热证的区别，实际上随着患者脏腑状况的不同而转移，从此勘破此理，那么清凉或温热的药剂，就能各当其宜，从而解开古今以来的疑团。
七、风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火，是天的六气。六气相互混杂，互相致病，最宜仔细辨别。如果一概指为伤寒，投以发散剂，危害实在很大，不可在初始阶段不慎。
八、杂症各有内伤和外感的不同，必须从此加以分别，那么治法就不会混淆，而取得疗效神速。
九、女子的疾病，多于男子，因为她有行经、怀孕、生产等情况。而且性情多抑郁，尤其容易生病，所以治法另有变通。这里特别在后面详细论述，其与男子相同的病症不记载，只记载其不同的地方而已。这不是遗漏。
1. Since the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), and *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues), Zhang Zhongjing is primarily recommended in the medical way, as he is the ancestor of prescription formulation. However, Zhang Zhongjing discussed Shanghan (Cold Damage) but did not fully expound on the principles of Wreheat diseases (Warm Heat Diseases) and Wen Yi (Warm Epidemics). Liu Hejian (Liu Wansu) discussed Wreheat diseases and Wen Yi, but was incomplete regarding Neishang (Internal Injury). Li Dongyuan detailed the discussion on Neishang, publishing insightful treatises such as those on Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Boost Qi Decoction) and Zhizhu Wan (Immature Bitter Orange Pill), with profound knowledge spanning millennia, yet there were still omissions regarding Yin-deficiency type Neishang. Zhu Danxi expanded upon this, proposing the theory that "Yang is often in excess, while Yin is often insufficient," to supplement what previous sages had missed, thereby making the medical way comprehensive. What more could be said? It is just that the works of these four masters, when combined, reveal their completeness; when separated, they reveal their partiality. This collection integrates the strengths of all four schools, harmonizing their subtle meanings so that each method may be suitable for clinical application, thus avoiding bias.
2. The distinction between Deficient Fire (Xu Huo) and Excess Fire (Shi Huo) is as vast as heaven and earth. Deficient Fire can be treated with tonification, while Excess Fire can be treated with purgation/draining. If mismanaged, disaster can occur as quickly as turning a palm. Here, fire generated internally is termed Zihuo (Offspring Fire), and fire arriving from externally is termed Zeihuo (Thief Fire). By distinguishing deficiency and excess to determine whether to tonify or drain, seemingly obscure principles of millennia become suddenly clear. In the process of prescribing medication according to symptoms, there is a sense of clarity and precision akin to drawing in sand or imprinting in clay.
3. All diseases essentially fall under the categories of Cold, Heat, Deficiency, Excess, Exterior, Interior, Yin, and Yang. Here, specific treatises are written to differentiate and discuss them. Summarized, they are within grasp; extrapolated, they can address infinite variations. Students should devote themselves to studying these.
4. In medical treatment, there are originally Eight Methods (Han, Tu, Xia, He, Wen, Qing, Xiao, Bu - Sweating, Vomiting, Purging, Harmonizing, Warming, Clearing, Reducing, Tonifying). However, some formula books mention five methods, others six. Contemporary physicians often adhere to biased views, using only one or two methods, considering themselves correct. This leads to treatments that do not follow proper protocols, causing mild illnesses to become severe, and severe illnesses to become critical, eventually resulting in having no effective methods left, which is deeply regrettable. Therefore, I have composed "The Eight Methods of the Medical Gate," discussing them repeatedly and in detail, so that practitioners may immerse themselves in these eight methods, enabling them to rescue the perilous and stabilize the collapsing, hopefully possessing life-saving techniques.
5. The category of Shanghan (Cold Damage) was traditionally said to comprise 397 methods and 113 prescriptions, yet still could not exhaust its variations. Thus, some claimed Zhang Zhongjing's *Treatise on Cold Damage* (*Shanghan Lun*) was not a complete work. Yet, I summarize it with merely four characters. Is this not too simple? One must not fail to realize that Shanghan involves only four aspects: Exterior, Interior, Cold, and Heat. From these four characters, eight scenarios are derived (Exterior Cold, Interior Cold, Exterior Heat, Interior Heat, Exterior and Interior both Heat, Exterior and Interior both Cold, Exterior Cold with Interior Heat, Exterior Heat with Interior Cold). Mastering these, not only can the 397 methods and 113 prescriptions be obtained effortlessly, but even thousands of changes are encompassed within them. Having studied Zhang Zhongjing's works for over ten years with some insights, I have composed the "Four-Character Treatise on Shanghan" as a bridge for future learners. Analysis is clear, principles are prominent, debates are detailed, and there is no confusion. Those treating Shanghan who take this as a model can gradually ascend to the hall and enter the inner chamber of Zhang Zhongjing's mastery.
6. The distinction between Cold and Heat in Zhongfeng (Wind Stroke) actually shifts according to the patient's Zang-Fu organs. Once this is penetrated/understood, then cooling or warming agents can be appropriately applied, resolving doubts from ancient and modern times.
7. Wind, Cold, Summer-Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire constitute the Six Qi (Six Climate Factors) of Heaven. When these six qi mix and interact, they cause disease, requiring careful differentiation. If generally labeled as Shanghan and treated with dispersing agents, the harm is significant. Caution is essential at the outset.
8. Miscellaneous diseases differ in terms of Internal Injury (Neishang) and External Contraction (Waigan). Differentiating from this point prevents confusion in treatment methods and leads to rapid efficacy.
9. Women's diseases are more numerous than men's due to menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Furthermore, their temperaments tend toward depression, making them prone to illness; thus, treatment methods require adaptation. These are detailed below. Diseases common to both sexes are not recorded here; only the differences are recorded. This is not an omission.