典藏书目

Mr. Chen Huiting is an outstanding talent from our province of Zhejiang. He failed to achieve success in the provincial examinations, so he abandoned the civil service path and attempted to serve as a low-ranking official in the Wu region (Suzhou area), yet he remained unfulfilled and found few like-minded companions. Since his youth, he had studied the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and was able to thoroughly understand the properties of hundreds of medicinal substances. When using these substances to treat illnesses, he often achieved efficacy. His intention was not to keep this skill for himself alone. During periods of waiting for official appointments when he had ample leisure time, he compiled the book *Bencao Cuoyao* (Essentials of Materia Medica) with the hope of passing it down to the world, enabling everyone to understand that medicines cure diseases by adhering to their inherent natures, thereby allowing the entire society to be free from the suffering of illness. Serving as an official is insufficient to benefit the world, so one relies on medicine to do so; his aspirations were grand, and his skills were refined.

This autumn, I initially came to assist in managing the affairs of the school at the invitation of the local magistrate in Wu. Mr. Chen, knowing me well, visited me and took out this book from his sleeve for me to see. I am ignorant of medicine, but I am willing to read his book. The descriptions of the conditions and characteristics of hundreds of medicinal substances are clear as fire, refreshing my mind and eyes. Consequently, I have reflections regarding the students of our school: the virtuous ones are like strong men who do not need medicine, whereas the secular atmosphere is frivolous, and habits of arrogance and absurdity are prevalent. It is like a prevailing epidemic, which often makes people prone to illness. We wish to treat them urgently, but we suffer from not having the right medicine. If Mr. Chen possesses other secrets akin to the *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies) by Ge Hong, could he bestow upon me something to treat the students? Currently, the students of the school are being prepared to become physicians who will govern the country in the future. The students' health must be cured first before they can speak of governing the country. If Mr. Chen indeed has other medical arts, perhaps they would be listed item by item, just as the principles of this book are presented. Since medicines can cure diseases, what else could be more beneficial to us?

Respectfully written by Zhang Yu, a man of calamity, on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month in the Xinchui year of Guangxu, at the East Study Hall of the Sino-Western School in Suzhou.

A physician's use of medicine is like a general's use of troops. If the troops are ineffective, the general cannot achieve success; if the medicine is ineffective, the illness rarely shows improvement. In marching armies, one must distinguish between host and guest positions and identify key strategic points; in prescribing medicine, one must differentiate between Jun (Monarch), Chen (Minister), Zuo (Assistant), and Shi (Envoy) roles. There are many diseases in the medical field, and there is no case where one can effectively treat without clearly understanding the properties of medicines. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) is already excellent, and Li Shizhen's *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) is comprehensive and brilliant. However, commonly used medicines number only a few hundred. If not utilized, they fall into oblivion, retaining only their names without physical existence. Recently, two books, *Bencao Bei Yao* (Prepared Essentials of Materia Medica) and *Bencao Cong Xin* (New Continuation of Materia Medica), have been popular in the world, but their balance of detail and brevity is inappropriate, and their methods of treatment do not align with those of former sages, leading to criticism by knowledgeable observers. My friend, Mr. Chen Huiting from Pingyi, is a Confucian scholar who practices medicine. He and I waited for official appointments together in Wu Men, interacting closely like friends for years. When the provincial capital established an official medical bureau, Mr. Chen directed its operations, saving countless lives. In his spare time from clinical practice, he personally compiled the book *Bencao Cuoyao*. In his preface, he stated: "Using medicines as the warp and prescriptions as the weft, the content is slightly larger than *Bencao Bei Yao* and slightly smaller than *Bencao Cong Xin*." Those who saw it considered it a fine edition and advised printing it to spread its transmission. After resigning from office to rest, I sat daily beside scriptures and medicine stoves, gaining a slight understanding of medical principles. Compared to Mr. Chen's use of medicine as if commanding troops, my learning, though specialized, lags far behind in awe.

Written by Han Fen, your humble younger brother of the same surname, in the late spring of the Dinghai year, 13th year of Guangxu.