医之济人博矣。古之人立论制方,所见虽不同,其所以利人之心则一。尚书胡公政务之
暇,集《卫生易简方》,余视之有三善焉∶随证用药,无所不备,便于人一也。治疾或止一、
二味,又非难致之物,便于人二也。其类聚明白。虽非专于医者,皆可据而用之,便于人三
也。通都大郡良医善药之所萃,固不为无助。若荒州小邑,医药不易致,而猝遽有急,得此
书而用之,其所济可胜言欤?观公之所用心,知公之所及人,呜呼,浓矣哉!
宣德丁未夏六月望日嘉议大夫太常卿兼翰林学士南郡杨溥书
盈天地间唯五运六气,五运主病,六气为病,乖 相乘,诸疾并作。上古圣神,悯生民
罹于夭札,尝药着书,惠利万粪。然而词简义深,后世读者,宜犹望洋乎!蜡因率而变,为
局方之学也,方法虽繁,疗病少验。医道缘是隐晦,故先正有云∶医书非吾传不能读。斯言
信哉!礼部尚书毗陵胡公,素承家传之业,又为当代通儒,发身科第,荐至宗伯,受知于太
宗文皇帝。命出使四方,省观风俗,问民之休戚苦乐,奔走于外将二十年。足迹遍乎区内,
询咨暇日,尤注意于医药方书之事。博采广搜,详讨细论,得省易经验者,总三千九百六十
三方,分为十二卷。服药忌例二十二条,六畜四十七方为附录。书成表进,上嘉纳焉,用其
副锓梓,名曰《卫生易简方》。间出示,泰受而读之,见其立言不泛,辨证无失,施剂克当,
未
逾宛陵、走南徐,抵建邺,寻师无所遇,复还杭,拜太无罗知悌其恳,遂得传刘、张、李三
家之旨以归。而其学惊动一世,着论多前人所未发。况公于名山大川,雄藩巨镇,以及殊方
绝域,偏州下邑,历览靡遗。其得于异人高士心传手授,率他书所未载者,诚足以裨辅圣明,
安养黎元之化也。传曰∶仁者,人之所亲。有慈慧恻隐之心,以遂其生成,殆公之谓矣。此
编宜与古书并行于世必也。泰敢忘其 ,窍题辞于后云。
国子祭酒金华贝泰书
医生救治世人,功德广大。古人确立理论、制定方剂,虽然见解不同,但他们造福百姓的心意是一致的。尚书胡公在政务之余,编纂了《卫生易简方》,我看了之后认为有三点好处:根据症状用药,无所不备,这是方便百姓的第一点。治疗疾病有时只用一两味药,而且又不是难以获取的物品,这是方便百姓的第二点。书中内容分类聚集,条理清晰。即使不是专门的医生,也可以依据此书使用,这是方便百姓的第三点。在大都市和主要郡县,良医和好药聚集,本来就不缺乏帮助。如果是荒僻的州县和小城镇,医药不容易得到,而突然发生紧急情况,得到这本书并使用它,所救济的人难道能说得完吗?看胡公的用心,就知道他惠及众人的程度,唉,真是深厚啊!
宣德丁未年夏六月十五日,嘉议大夫太常卿兼翰林学士南郡人杨溥书写。
天地之间只有五运六气,五运主管疾病,六气引发疾病,如果乖戾相互乘袭,各种疾病就会发作。上古时期的圣明神人,怜悯百姓遭受早死和瘟疫之苦,尝试药物并著书立说,恩惠利益万民。然而文字简练、义理深奥,后世的读者,恐怕就像面对大海一样感到茫然不知所措!医学随着时代演变而变化,形成了局方之学,虽然方法繁杂,但治疗疾病很少见效。医道因此变得隐晦不明,所以先贤有句话说:“医书如果不是我们这一脉传承的,就不能读懂。”这话确实可信啊!礼部尚书毗陵人胡公,向来继承家传医术,又是当代博学的大儒,通过科举出身,一步步晋升至礼部尚书(宗伯),受到太宗文皇帝的赏识。奉命出使四方,考察风俗,询问百姓的疾苦和快乐,在外奔波将近二十年。足迹遍布国内,在闲暇咨询之余,尤其注重医药方书之事。广泛采集搜索,详细探讨论述,选取简便且经过验证有效的方子,总共三千九百六十三方,分为十二卷。服药禁忌条例二十二条,以及四十七首用于牲畜治疗的方子作为附录。书成后上表进献,皇上赞赏并采纳,于是用副本刻印梓行,命名为《卫生易简方》。偶尔展示给我,我恭敬地阅读,见其立论不空泛,辨证没有失误,施药恰当,不久后前往宛陵、南下南徐,抵达建邺,寻找老师却没有遇到,又返回杭州,拜见太无罗知悌,态度诚恳,于是得以传承刘、张、李三家医学宗旨而归。他的学问惊动了一代,发表的论述多有前人未曾阐发的地方。何况胡公对名山大川、雄伟的藩镇巨城,以及偏远殊方、边远州县,都游览遍了,没有遗漏。他从异人高士那里得到的心传手授,大多是其他书籍所未记载的,确实足以辅助圣明的教化,安抚养育百姓。古语说:“仁爱的人,是人们所亲近的。”拥有慈爱聪慧、恻隐之心,以成就他人的生命,大概说的就是胡公这样的人吧。这部书应该与古书并行于世。我不敢忘记这份恩情,所以在后面题写辞文。
国子祭酒金华人贝泰书写
The healing of people by physicians is vast. The ancients established theories and formulated prescriptions; although their perspectives differed, their intention to benefit humanity was one and the same. Minister Hu, during his leisure from official duties, compiled the *Weisheng Yijian Fang* (Hygiene and Simplicity Prescriptions). Upon reviewing it, I found three merits: prescribing medicines according to symptoms without omission, which facilitates access for the people—this is the first convenience. Treating diseases often requires only one or two herbs that are not difficult to obtain, which facilitates access for the people—this is the second convenience. The contents are categorized clearly. Even those who are not specialized physicians can rely on it for use, which facilitates access for the people—this is the third convenience. In metropolises and major commanderies, where good physicians and quality medicines gather, help is certainly not lacking. However, in remote prefectures and small counties where medical supplies are hard to procure, sudden emergencies may arise. With this book, such emergencies can be addressed; the number of lives saved would be incalculable! Observing the Minister's dedication, one understands the extent of his benevolence. Alas, how profound it is!
Written by Yang Pu, a Gentleman of the Secretariat and Grand Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, from Nanjun, on the 15th day of the sixth lunar month of summer in the Dingwei year of Xuande.
Within heaven and earth, there are only the Five Movements (Wu Yun) and Six Qi (Liu Qi). The Five Movements govern diseases, and the Six Qi induce illnesses. When they deviate and attack each other, various diseases arise. The sages and divine beings of ancient times, pitying the common people suffering from premature death and plagues, tasted herbs and wrote books to benefit all living beings. However, the language was concise and the meaning profound, so later readers might feel as if gazing at the ocean, overwhelmed. Medicine has evolved over time, leading to the school of fixed formulas (Ju Fang); although the methods were complex, their efficacy in curing diseases was rarely verified. Consequently, the Way of Medicine became obscure. Thus, the former worthies said, "Medical texts cannot be read unless transmitted by our own lineage." This statement is indeed true!
Minister Hu of Piling, Minister of Rites, had inherited family medical traditions and was also a contemporary erudite scholar. He entered officialdom through the imperial examinations and rose step by step to the position of Minister of Rites (Zongbo), gaining the favor of Emperor Wen of Taizong. He was ordered to travel to various regions to observe customs and inquire about the hardships and joys of the people, serving abroad for nearly twenty years. His footsteps covered the entire realm. During his spare time for consultation, he paid particular attention to medical prescriptions. He extensively collected and searched, carefully discussing and analyzing, selecting simple and empirically effective prescriptions, totaling 3,963 formulas, divided into twelve volumes. There are twenty-two articles on contraindications for taking medicine, and forty-seven formulas for livestock are appended. After the book was completed, it was presented to the throne. The Emperor appreciated and accepted it, ordering a copy to be carved on woodblocks and published, named *Weisheng Yijian Fang* (Hygiene and Simplicity Prescriptions).
Occasionally showing it to me, I respectfully read it. I saw that its statements were not superficial, its differentiation of syndromes (Bian Zheng) was accurate, and its application of medicines was appropriate. Soon after, I traveled to Wanling, went south to Nanxu, and arrived at Jianye, seeking teachers but meeting none. I then returned to Hangzhou and respectfully sought out Luo Zhithe (courtesy name Taiwu). Through my sincerity, I was able to inherit the principles of the Liu, Zhang, and Li schools and return home. His learning shocked the generation, and his treatises contained many insights not previously expressed by predecessors. Moreover, Minister Hu had visited famous mountains and great rivers, mighty fortresses and large towns, as well as distant lands and remote counties, leaving no place unvisited. The knowledge he received through heart-to-heart transmission and hand-to-hand instruction from extraordinary persons and high scholars was largely unrecorded in other books. This truly suffices to assist the sage-like enlightenment and nurture the people. As the classics say, "The benevolent are loved by others." Possessing a heart of compassion, wisdom, and empathy to sustain life, this description fits Minister Hu perfectly. This compilation should circulate alongside ancient texts. I dare not forget this kindness, so I append these words.
Written by Bei Tai, Chancellor of the National Academy (Guozijiu), from Jinhua.