图说〔核〕
自炎帝尝药，形质始皙；惟德刑异齐，而厥状缘以区分。先贤着为图说，间亦差别。大
率三 相承，风气代变，且声教渐远，而物性亦移；或古之所产，今无取焉。倘按旧图，靡
施新效。余谨从先贤序述名类中，妄加辩核。间取数十种，躬莳斋圃，求其甲孕癸终之候，
敢曰旁通。诚以术重安人，机殊相马，方则犹是，而投或罔功者，繇辩之有未辩也。芟繁就
简，多仍旧文。语有之，见色见心，设繇是而循所以生成之序，以返而探所以生成之原。如
良将用兵，务使兵识将意，将识兵情，斯靡投不善矣。作图说〔核〕。
本经〔 〕
本经言简意尽，精义入神，其范围曲成之妙，非古之聪明睿智而神圣者，何以与此。先
贤多得其精，引而不发；后世曲士，见外遗内，取粗舍精；或守其一隅，而乖其全体，斯精
义裂矣。余早岁获聆先人之绪论，捍格鲜解。久之从一品一节中，稍见一斑。因溯求本经所
以立名之意，与后人随事异称之故，其德性气味功能之殊具，温凉寒热燥湿之异齐，刚柔升
降开阖发敛之互用，固君臣佐使之所繇分也。然张弛纵横之妙，如善兵者，因敌为变，以操
其分合之神。故多亦胜，少亦胜，动亦胜，静亦胜。设未能直 古圣精义入神之奥，虽
自谓了了，余知其不无茫茫矣。余颛愚谫陋，积岁茫茫，然偶有一得，辄妄忆之而妄言之。
觊海内高明，庶有因鄙说而起予者。作本经〔 〕。
图说〔核〕
自从炎帝亲自品尝百草，药物的形态和质地才开始被清晰认知；因为药物性质的善恶不同，它们的形状特征也因此得以区分。前贤曾撰写过相关的图谱解说，其中也包含了一些差异性的描述。大体上遵循三种传承，随着时代风气变迁，声教教化逐渐远播，药物的本性也随之改变；有些古代出产的药物，如今已不再被采用。如果仅仅依据旧的图谱，就无法产生新的疗效。我谨慎地在前贤叙述的名目类别中，妄加辨析考证。偶尔选取数十种药物，在书斋的园圃中亲自种植，以求探究其生长变化的规律，不敢说能旁通万物之理。确实是因为医术重在安顿生命，这与相马之术截然不同；方剂虽然还是那些方剂，但投药有时却不见功效，这是由于辨证的不够彻底所致。删去繁杂，保留简约，大多沿用旧文。俗话说，通过表象可见内心，假如能由此遵循生成的次序，进而返回来探求生成的本源。就像良将用兵，务必使士兵理解将领的意图，将领了解士兵的情况，这样就没有什么行动是不善的了。于是撰写《图说〔核〕》。
本经〔 〕
《神农本草经》言辞简练而意蕴完备，精微义理神妙入化，它那包罗万象、成就万物的奥妙，如果不是古代聪明睿智且神圣的人，怎么能参与其中呢？前贤大多掌握了其中的精髓，引而不发；后世的浅陋之士，只见外表而忽略内在，取粗疏而舍精微；或者固守一个角落，而违背了整体精神，致使精微的义理支离破碎。我年轻时有幸聆听父辈的绪论，但心中多有隔阂，很少能理解。久而久之，从一品一节的细微处，才稍微窥见一斑。于是追溯《本经》确立名称的本意，以及后人随事物变化而异称的原因，探讨其德性、气味、功能的独特差异，温凉寒热燥湿的不同属性，刚柔升降开阖发敛的相互运用，这确实是君臣佐使配伍原则的依据所在。然而张弛纵横的妙用，就像善于用兵的人，根据敌情变化而灵活应变，从而掌握分合的神妙。所以多也能胜，少也能胜，动也能胜，静也能胜。假如不能直接领悟古圣精义入化的深奥境界，虽然自认为明白透彻，但我知道其中难免会有迷茫之处。我愚钝浅陋，多年来一直感到迷茫，然而偶尔有所心得，便妄自回忆并妄加言说。希望海内高明之士，或许能因我的浅见而受到启发。于是撰写《本经〔 〕》。
Tu Shuo [He] (Illustrated Commentary [Verification])
Since the Yan Emperor tasted herbs, the forms and qualities of substances began to be clearly understood; due to the differences in their moral and punitive natures (referring to the beneficial or harmful properties), their shapes and characteristics were thereby distinguished. Former sages composed illustrated commentaries, which occasionally contained differing descriptions. Generally following three lineages, as the customs of the times changed and cultural influence spread further, the intrinsic nature of substances also shifted; some herbs produced in ancient times are no longer utilized today. If one relies solely on old illustrations, new therapeutic effects cannot be achieved. I have carefully added辨析 (analysis and verification) within the categories and names narrated by former sages. Occasionally selecting dozens of species, I personally cultivated them in my study garden, seeking to understand the timing of their gestation and completion (甲孕癸终 refers to the cyclical stages of growth), daring not claim to comprehend all connections. Indeed, medical art aims to benefit humanity, which is distinct from the art of judging horses; although the formulas remain the same, administering them may sometimes yield no results because the differentiation of syndromes was incomplete. Removing complexity for simplicity, mostly retaining original texts. As the saying goes, seeing the color reveals the mind; if one can follow the order of generation from this point and return to explore the origin of generation, it would be like a capable general using troops: ensuring the soldiers understand the general's intent and the general understands the soldiers' conditions, so that no action would be ineffective. Thus, *Tu Shuo [He]* was composed.
Ben Jing [ ]
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) is concise in language yet exhaustive in meaning, with profound principles entering the realm of the divine. Its subtlety in encompassing and completing all things—how could those who are not anciently wise, intelligent, and sacred participate in this? Former sages grasped its essence but did not fully expound it; later narrow-minded scholars saw the exterior while neglecting the interior, taking the coarse while discarding the refined, or adhering to one corner while deviating from the whole, thus fragmenting the profound principles. In my early years, I had the fortune to hear the preliminary theories of my elders, but felt blocked with little understanding. After a long time, through examining individual items and sections, I began to see a glimpse of the whole. Therefore, I traced the intent behind the naming conventions in the *Ben Jing*, and the reasons why later generations used different names for the same matters according to circumstances. I explored the unique differences in their virtues, flavors, and functions; the variations in warming, cooling, cold, hot, dry, and moist properties; and the mutual application of rigid/flexible, ascending/descending, opening/closing, releasing/consolidating attributes. These indeed form the basis for the division of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier roles in formula composition. However, the subtlety of tension and relaxation, like a skilled soldier adapting to the enemy, allows one to manipulate the spirit of division and combination. Thus, both abundance and scarcity can lead to victory; movement and stillness can both lead to victory. If one cannot directly penetrate the profound mystery of the ancient sages' divine principles, even if claiming to understand clearly, I know there will inevitably be confusion. Being foolish and shallow, I have been confused for years, yet occasionally gaining insights, I recklessly recall and speak them. I hope that brilliant minds within the seas may find inspiration in my humble words. Thus, *Ben Jing [ ]* was composed.