夫外台者，刺史之任也；秘要者，秘密、枢要之谓也。唐王焘台阁二十余年，久知弘文
馆，得古今方，上自神农，下及唐世，无不采摭，集成经方四十卷，皆诸方秘密枢要也。以
出守于外，故号曰《外台秘要方》，凡一千一百单四门，以巢氏《病源》、诸家论辨各冠其
首，一家之学，不为不详。王氏为儒者，医道虽未及孙思邈，然而采取诸家之方颇得其要者，
亦崔氏、孟诜之流也。且古之如张仲景、《集验》、《短剧方》，最为名家，今多亡逸，
方中，亦不能别白，王氏编次，各题名号，使后之学人，皆知所出，此其所长也。又谓针能
杀生人，不能起死人，其法云亡且久，故取灸而不取针，亦医家之蔽也。此方撰集之时，或
得缺落之书，因其阙文、义理不完者多矣。又自唐历五代，传写其本，讹舛尤甚，虽鸿都秘
府，亦无善本。国家诏儒臣较正医书，臣承命，以其书方证之重者，删去以从其简；经书之
异者，注解以着其详，鲁鱼豕亥，焕然明白。臣谓三代而下，文物之盛者，必曰西汉，止以
侍医李柱国较方技，亦未尝命儒臣也。臣虽滥吹儒学，但尽所闻见，以修正之，有所阙疑，
以待来哲。总四十卷，并目录一卷。恭惟主上盛德承统，深仁流化，颁此方论，惠及区宇，
赞天地之生育，正万物之性命，使岁无疵疠，人不夭横，熙熙然歌乐于圣造者也。
前将仕郎守殿中丞同较正医书臣孙兆谨上
所谓“外台”，是指刺史（地方长官）的职位；所谓“秘要”，是指秘密且关键的内容。唐代王焘在朝廷任职二十多年，长期在弘文馆工作，收集了从古至今的方剂，上起神农时代，下至唐代，无不采录整理，汇编成四十卷经方，这些都是各方中秘密而关键的内容。因为他出任地方刺史，所以书名为《外台秘要方》，全书共一千一百零四个门类，以巢元方的《诸病源候论》和各家的论述辨析作为各篇之首，一家之学，可谓详尽无遗。王焘是儒生出身，虽然医学造诣不及孙思邈，但他采集各家方剂颇得其要领，也属于崔氏、孟诜这一类的人物。况且古代如张仲景的著作、《集验方》、《短剧方》等，最为名家所推崇，如今大多已经散佚，方书中也无法分辨清楚，王焘在编纂时，分别注明题目和名称，使后来的学习者都知道出处，这是他的长处。他又认为针刺能杀死活人，却不能救活死人，这种针法已经失传很久，所以他只取灸法而不取针法，这也是医家的一种局限。这部书在编纂时，或许得到了一些残缺不全的书籍，因此文中缺漏、义理不完备的地方很多。又因为从唐代历经五代，辗转传抄，错误尤其严重，即使是皇家秘府，也没有好的版本。国家诏令儒臣校订医书，我奉命执行，将书中方证重要的部分删减以求简练；对经书中的异同之处，加以注解以明确详情，原本错乱的文字变得清晰明白。我认为夏商周三代之后，文化昌盛的时期，一定要说是西汉，当时只是由侍医李柱国校订方技，也未曾命令儒臣参与。我虽滥竽充数于儒学之中，但只是尽力根据我所听到的和看到的来修正它，如果有缺失或疑问的地方，留待后世贤哲补充。全书共四十卷，加上目录一卷。恭敬地认为皇上盛德继承大统，深厚的仁德流布教化，颁布这部方论，恩惠遍及天下，赞颂天地的生育之功，端正万物的性命，使每年没有瘟疫疾病，人们不遭横死，欢欣鼓舞地歌颂圣人的创造。
前将仕郎守殿中丞兼校订医书臣孙兆恭敬呈上
The term "Waitai" (Outer Platform) refers to the position of a Cishi (provincial governor); the term "Miyao" (Secret Essentials) refers to secret and pivotal content. Wang Tao of the Tang Dynasty served in the imperial court for over twenty years, working long-term at the Hongwen Academy. He collected prescriptions from ancient times up to the Tang era, compiling them into forty volumes of classic formulas, all of which represent the secret and pivotal aspects of various medical texts. Because he was appointed as a provincial governor outside the capital, the book was titled *Waitai Miyao Fang* (Prescriptions of the Secret Essentials from the Outer Platform). It contains 1,104 categories, with Chao Yuanfang's *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases) and discussions from various schools placed at the beginning of each section, making this single compilation extremely comprehensive. Wang Tao was a Confucian scholar; although his medical expertise did not reach the level of Sun Simiao, his collection of prescriptions from various schools captured their essentials, placing him among figures like Cui Shi and Meng Shen. Furthermore, ancient works such as those by Zhang Zhongjing, *Jiyan Fang*, and *Duanju Fang* were highly regarded by famous masters, but most have since been lost, and it is difficult to distinguish them within later formula books. Wang Tao’s editorial method involved clearly titling and naming each source, allowing later students to know their origins, which is his strength. He also held the view that acupuncture could kill living people but could not revive the dead, and since this technique had been lost for a long time, he chose to include only moxibustion methods and exclude acupuncture, which represents a limitation in medical practice. When this work was compiled, some incomplete books may have been obtained, resulting in many textual gaps and incomplete logical explanations. Moreover, from the Tang Dynasty through the Five Dynasties, repeated copying led to severe errors; even the imperial secret archives lacked good editions. The state decreed that Confucian scholars should collate medical texts. I, receiving this mandate, deleted less important formula cases to simplify the text and added annotations to clarify differences in canonical texts, making originally confused characters clear and distinct. I believe that after the Three Dynasties, the period of greatest cultural prosperity was the Western Han Dynasty, where only the Imperial Physician Li Zhuguo collated medical techniques, without assigning Confucian scholars to the task. Although I merely pretend to proficiency in Confucian studies, I have done my best to correct the text based on what I have heard and seen. Any missing or doubtful parts are left for future sages to supplement. The total comprises forty volumes, plus one volume of table of contents. Reverently, we acknowledge that Your Majesty, inheriting the throne with great virtue, spreads profound benevolence and transformation. By promulgating these formula treatises, grace extends throughout the realm, praising the creative power of Heaven and Earth, rectifying the life and nature of all things, ensuring no pestilence occurs annually and no one suffers premature death, so that people may joyfully sing praises of the Sage's creation.
Sun Zhao, former Jiangshilang (Official Rank), Acting Diangezhen (Palace Attendant), and Collator of Medical Texts, respectfully submits.