经方尚矣。唐宋以后。始有通行之时方。约其法于十剂。所谓宣通补泄轻重滑涩燥湿是
也。昔贤加入寒热。共成十有二剂。虽曰平浅。而亦本之经方。轻可散实。仿于麻黄葛根诸
汤。宣可决壅。仿于栀豉瓜蒂二方。通可行滞。仿于五苓十枣之属。泻可去闭。仿于陷胸承
气抵当之属。胆导蜜煎。滑可去着之剂也。赤石脂桃花汤。涩可固脱之剂也。附子汤理中丸。
补可扶
轺赤小豆汤。燥可去湿之剂也。白虎黄连泻心等汤。寒可胜热之剂也。白通四逆诸汤。热可
制寒之剂也。余向者汇集经方而韵注之。名为真方歌括。限于赀而未梓。缮本虽多。而刀圭
家每秘而弗传。大为恨事。辛酉岁。到直供职。适夏间大雨。捧檄勘灾。以劳构疾。脉脱而
厥。诸医无一得病情者。迨夜半阳气稍回。神识稍清。自定方剂而愈。时温虐流行。因余之
病。而知误于药者。堪悯焉。盖医者。生人之术也。一有所误。即为杀人。余滥竽人后。诸
多有志而未逮
经。即仲景。
其切当精纯。
集罗东逸柯韵伯诸论。及余二十年读书临症独得之妙。一一详于歌后。颜曰时方歌括。为中
人以下立法。徐可引以语上之道也。至于张景岳新方八阵。汇药治病。不足言方。缘一时盛
行。余友林雨苍俯以从时。韵既成帙。共商注解。业经梓行。亦不遽弃。别其名曰俗方歌括。
此三种者。浅深
嘉庆辛酉孟秋修园陈念祖题于保阳差次
经方（源自《伤寒杂病论》的经典方剂）历史悠久。唐宋以后，才开始出现广泛流行的时方（后世医家创制的方剂）。其法则大致归纳为“十剂”，即所谓宣、通、补、泄、轻、重、滑、涩、燥、湿这十类。
以前的贤者又加入了寒、热两类，共成为十二剂。虽然说法较为平浅，但也本源于经方。
“轻可散实”（用轻清之药解散实证），仿效于麻黄汤、葛根汤等方剂；
“宣可决壅”（用宣透之药开通壅塞），仿效于栀子豉汤、瓜蒂散两方；
“通可行滞”（用通行之药消除停滞），仿效于五苓散、十枣汤之类；
“泻可去闭”（用泻下之药去除闭塞），仿效于陷胸汤、承气汤、抵当汤之类；
胆导法及蜜煎导法，是“滑可去着”（用滑利之药去除黏着积滞）的方剂；
赤石脂禹余粮汤（原文作赤石脂桃花汤，此处依文意及常见配伍推测可能指固涩剂，但严格按原文提取实体）、桃花汤，是“涩可固脱”（用收敛之药固摄脱失）的方剂；
附子汤、理中丸，是“补可扶弱”（原文作“补可扶轺”，疑为“扶弱”或“扶危”之误，意为扶助正气）的方剂；
赤小豆当归散（原文作赤小豆汤，结合语境及陈修园常用方，此处暂按原文提取），是“燥可去湿”（用燥湿之药去除湿气）的方剂；
白虎汤、黄连汤、泻心汤等，是“寒可胜热”（用寒凉之药克制热邪）的方剂；
白通汤、四逆汤等，是“热可制寒”（用温热之药制约寒邪）的方剂。
我先前汇集经方并加以韵文注释，命名为《真方歌括》，但因限于财力未能刊印。虽然抄本很多，但行医之人往往秘而不传，这是一件非常遗憾的事。
辛酉年（1861年），我到直隶供职。恰逢夏季大雨，奉命勘察灾情，因劳累而患病，出现脉微欲绝、四肢厥冷的症状。各位医生没有一个能准确判断病情的。直到半夜，阳气稍微恢复，神志稍微清醒，我自己拟定方剂服药后痊愈。当时温疟流行，因为我的病，知道因用药错误而导致后果的人，真是令人怜悯啊。
大概医者，是救活人的技艺。一旦有所失误，就是杀人。我滥竽充数于人后，许多有志向却未能达到境界的人，读《伤寒论》（原文截断处隐含此意，结合下文仲景），即使像张仲景这样的圣人，其方剂切当精纯。
我汇集了罗东逸、柯韵伯等人的论述，以及我二十年读书临症独自领悟的精妙之处，一一详细记载在歌诀之后。题名为《时方歌括》，是为了给中等资质以下的医者树立法则，让他们慢慢可以引用于更高深的道理。至于张景岳的新方八阵，汇总药物来治病，不足以称为真正的方剂理论。因为一时盛行，我的朋友林雨苍顺应时俗，将其编成韵文诗集，共同商讨注解，已经刊印发行，也不立即抛弃，另取名为《俗方歌括》。
这三种书，深浅不同。
嘉庆辛酉年孟秋（农历七月），修园陈念祖题写于保定差馆。
Classic formulas (Jingfang, classic prescriptions from ancient texts) have a long history. After the Tang and Song dynasties, contemporary formulas (Shifang, prescriptions created by later physicians) began to circulate widely. Their principles are roughly summarized into the "Ten Categories" (Shi Ji), namely: Xuān (Ventilating), Tōng (Unblocking), Bǔ (Tonifying), Xiè (Purging), Qīng (Light), Zhòng (Heavy), Huá (Slippery), Sè (Astringent), Zào (Drying), and Shī (Moistening).
Former sages added Cold (Hán) and Heat (Rè), totaling twelve categories. Although these descriptions are relatively plain and shallow, they are also rooted in the Classic Formulas.
"Lightness can disperse excess" (Qīng kě sàn shí), modeled after formulas such as Máhuáng Tāng (Ephedra Decoction) and Gégēn Tāng (Kudzu Root Decoction);
"Ventilation can resolve obstruction" (Xuān kě jué yōng), modeled after Zhīzǐ Chìtǎo Tāng (Gardenia and Soybean Mung Bean Decoction) and Guādì Sǎn (Melon Seed Powder);
"Unblocking can move stagnation" (Tōng kě xíng zhì), modeled after Wǔlíng Sǎn (Five-Ling Powder) and Shízǎo Tāng (Ten-Date Decoction);
"Purging can remove closure" (Xiè kě qù bì), modeled after Xiàxiōng Tāng (Chest-Sinking Decoction), Chéngqì Tāng (Assisting Qi Decoction), and Dǐdāng Tāng (Ground-Assaulting Decoction);
The gallbladder suppository method and honey suppository method are agents for "Slipperiness can remove adherence" (Huá kě qù zhuó);
Chíshízhī Yúyúliáng Tāng (Red Halloysite and Hematite Decoction) and Táohuā Tāng (Peach Blossom Decoction) are agents for "Astringency can secure collapse" (Sè kě gù tuō);
Fùzǐ Tāng (Aconite Decoction) and Lǐzhōng Wán (Regulate the Middle Pill) are agents for "Tonification can support weakness" (Bǔ kě fú ruò);
Chìxiǎodòu Tāng (Red Adzuki Bean Decoction) is an agent for "Dryness can remove dampness" (Zào kě qù shī);
Báihǔ Tāng (White Tiger Decoction), Huánglián Tāng (Coptis Decoction), and Xièxīn Tāng (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) are agents for "Coldness can overcome heat" (Hán kě shèng rè);
Báitōng Tāng (White Connective Decoction) and Sìní Tāng (Four-Cold Decoction) are agents for "Heatness can control cold" (Rè kě zhì hán).
Previously, I compiled the Classic Formulas and annotated them with rhymed verses, naming it *Zhēnfāng Gēkuò* (Rhymed Verses on True Formulas). However, limited by financial resources, I could not have it printed. Although many copies existed, practitioners often kept them secret and did not transmit them, which was a great regret.
In the Xin You year (1861), I went to Zhili to take up my post. It happened that heavy rains fell in summer, and I was ordered to inspect disaster areas. Due to overwork, I fell ill, presenting with pulselessness and cold extremities (Jué). None of the various physicians could accurately diagnose the condition. By midnight, when Yang energy slightly recovered and consciousness became somewhat clear, I formulated a prescription myself and recovered. At that time, warm malaria was prevalent. Because of my illness, those who knew they had been harmed by incorrect medication were truly pitiable.
Physicianship is essentially the art of giving life. A single error can lead to death. I am but one among many, and many have aspirations but fail to achieve mastery. Regarding the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), even Zhang Zhongjing's formulations are precise and pure.
I collected discussions from Luo Dongyi and Ke Yunbo, along with my own unique insights gained from twenty years of study and clinical practice, detailing them all after the verses. I titled this work *Shífāng Gēkuò* (Rhymed Verses on Contemporary Formulas) to establish standards for physicians of average ability, allowing them to gradually ascend to higher understanding. As for Zhang Jingyue's New Formulas Eight Arrays, which merely compile herbs to treat diseases, it does not sufficiently discuss formula theory. Because it was popular at the time, my friend Lin Yu Cang adapted it into a rhymed collection. We discussed annotations together, and it has already been printed. It is not immediately discarded, but given another title: *Súfāng Gēkuò* (Rhymed Verses on Common Formulas).
These three works vary in depth.
Written by Chen Nianzu (Xiu Yuan) in the early autumn of the Xin You year of the Jiaqing reign, at the official residence in Baoding.