山阴陈子远公，壮游宇内，得老湖丛着，轩岐之书。其见闻所暨及，既广且博，宜其书
之奇
也
。虽然无识不可着书，无胆亦不可着书，阅览于山川草木禽兽鱼龙昆虫之内，而识不足以辨
其义，胆不足以扬其论，欲书之奇得乎。陈子之识，上下千古，翻前人旧案，阐厥精微，绝
非诡异，一皆理之所必有也。异胆横绝，浩浩落落，无一语不穷厥秘奥，绝无艰涩气晦于笔
端。是识足以壮胆，而胆又足以济识也，欲书之不奇，难矣。吾与天师岐伯、纯阳吕公，嘉
陈子有著作，下使再读碧落文，其奇应不止此。丁卯秋，访陈子燕市，陈子拜吾三人于座上
，天师将碧落文尽传之，余传《六气》诸书。陈子苦不尽识，余牖迪三阅月。陈子喜曰∶吾
今后不敢以着述让后人也。着《内经》、《灵枢》、《六气》告竣。又着《本草》，奇矣！
而陈子未知奇也。百伤不遇，叹息异才之湮没不彰。嗟乎！有才不用，亦其常也。抱可
以着
作之才，不用之于著作，致足惜也。今陈子不遇，仍着书以老，是有才而不违其才矣，又胡
足惜乎。况陈子得碧文助其胆识，则书之奇，实足传远，然则陈子之不遇老而着书，正天之
浓陈子也。陈子又何必自伤哉。
康熙己巳莫春望后汉长沙守张机题于芜江
山阴人陈远公，壮游天下，获得了《老湖丛著》以及轩辕、岐伯的医书。他的见闻所及，既广泛又渊博，这本书的奇特也就理所当然了。虽然如此，没有见识不能著书，没有胆识也不能著书。如果在山川草木、禽兽鱼龙昆虫中阅览，但见识不足以辨别其中的义理，胆识不足以发扬其论点，想要书作奇特，怎么可能呢？陈远的见识，贯通古今，推翻前人旧案，阐发其中精微之处，绝非诡异怪诞，全都是道理中必然存在的。他独特的胆识横绝古今，浩浩落落，没有一句话不穷尽其中的奥秘，绝无晦涩之气显露于笔端。这是见识足以壮大胆识，而胆识又足以辅助见识，想要书作不奇特，都难了。我与天师岐伯、纯阳吕公（吕洞宾），赞赏陈远有著作，让他再读《碧落文》，那书中的奇特应该不止于此。丁卯年秋天，我在燕市拜访陈远，陈远在座上向我们三人拜见，天师将《碧落文》全部传授给他，我传授了《六气》等书。陈远苦于不能完全理解，我启发教导了他三个月。陈远高兴地说：“我以后不敢把著述留给后人了。”于是完成了《内经》、《灵枢》、《六气》的著述。又撰写了《本草》，真是奇特啊！然而陈远自己并不知道这有多奇特。百次受伤都不遇知音，叹息异才被埋没而不彰显。唉！有才能却不被任用，也是常事。怀抱可以著作的才能，却不用于著作，确实令人惋惜。如今陈远虽未遇知音，仍著书以终老，这是有才能而没有违背自己的才能，又有什么值得惋惜的呢？况且陈远得到了《碧落文》帮助他的胆识，那么书的奇特，确实足以流传久远，既然这样，陈远在不遇知音的情况下年老著书，正是上天对陈远的厚爱。陈远又何必自我悲伤呢？
康熙己巳年暮春望日之后，汉长沙太守张机题写于芜江。
Chen Yuan Gong, a man from Shanyin, traveled extensively throughout the realm and acquired "Lao Hu Cong Zhu" as well as medical texts attributed to Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo. His scope of observation was both broad and profound; thus, the uniqueness of his book was to be expected. Nevertheless, one cannot write without insight, nor without courage. If one observes mountains, rivers, plants, trees, birds, beasts, fish, dragons, and insects, but lacks the insight to discern their meanings and the courage to expound upon them, how could the resulting work be unique? Chen's insight spans antiquity to the present, overturning previous precedents and elucidating their subtleties. It is neither bizarre nor eccentric, but entirely consistent with logical necessity. His unique courage transcends boundaries, vast and free, leaving no sentence without exploring its mysteries, and devoid of any obscure or difficult language in his writing. Here, insight strengthens courage, and courage aids insight; it would be difficult for his work not to be unique. I, along with Tian Shi Qibo and Chunyang Lu Gong (Lu Dongbin), appreciate Chen's literary achievements. Had he read "Bi Luo Wen" again, the uniqueness of his work would surely extend beyond what is presented here. In the autumn of Ding Mao, I visited Chen at Yan Market. There, Chen paid respects to us three in the hall. Tian Shi transmitted all of "Bi Luo Wen" to him, and I transmitted books such as "Liu Qi" (Six Qi). Chen suffered from incomplete understanding, so I guided and enlightened him for three months. Chen rejoiced, saying, "From now on, I dare not leave my literary contributions to later generations." He completed works on "Nei Jing" (Inner Canon), "Ling Shu" (Spiritual Pivot), and "Liu Qi". He then wrote "Ben Cao" (Materia Medica); it was truly unique! Yet Chen himself did not realize its uniqueness. Having encountered rejection a hundred times, he sighed at the obscurity of exceptional talent. Alas! It is common for talent to remain unused. To possess the talent for writing yet fail to utilize it is indeed regrettable. Now, although Chen has not met with recognition, he continues to write until old age; this means he possesses talent and does not betray it. What is there to regret? Moreover, aided by "Bi Luo Wen" in strengthening his courage and insight, the uniqueness of his book is certainly sufficient to endure for a long time. Therefore, Chen's act of writing in old age despite lack of recognition is precisely Heaven's generous endowment to Chen. Why should Chen grieve himself?
Inscribed by Zhang Ji, Han Dynasty Governor of Changsha, after the Full Moon in late spring of the Jisi year of Kangxi, at Wujiang.