典藏书目

My younger brother, Ruisheng, once traveled in Xin'an and happened to contract malaria. Mr. Quan cured him. Upon his return, he recounted Mr. Quan's great reputation. Several years later, I finally had the opportunity to meet him.

Mr. Quan had a full face and an amiable demeanor; indeed, he was a person of the Way (Dao). Subsequently, I read his printed collection of ancient and contemporary poetry, which consisted mostly of works reflecting a secluded, tranquil, and indifferent state, as well as compositions from his travels in his youth describing magnificent scenery. Later, I read his medical cases (Yi An), and I became even more respectful of him as a learned Confucian scholar who possessed broad knowledge and understanding.

A physician relies on "Yi" (intuitive insight/mind). Only with a mind that flows in harmony with Heaven and Earth can one comprehend the books of ancient prescriptions and herbs. Furthermore, only by completely freeing oneself from rigid adherence to formulas and drugs can one effectively apply them, reaching a level of spiritual proficiency. If medicine were truly based on subjective speculation, could medical cases be fabricated at will?

Mr. Quan also has an unpublished book titled *Yi Shu* (Medical Discourses). It appears to be a compilation where, after extensively studying the *Ling Shu*, *Su Wen*, and discussions by various schools through the ages, he selected the most accurate and appropriate contents into a single collection. The volumes are substantial, and his diligence surpasses that of the *Hai Lu*. When published in the future, readers who cross-reference it will realize that the contributions of a learned Confucian extend far beyond merely equating the merit of a capable minister.

Recorded respectfully by Hou Yunsong of Baixia, in the first ten days of the Zi month (November) of the 6th year of Daoguang.

The *Nei Zhuan* records two instances of excellent physicians: Yi Huan examined the illness of the Marquis of Jin and stated that the disease was located above the diaphragm and below the heart fat, where attack methods were ineffective and needle therapy could not reach. These few words constitute an early form of a medical case record. Additionally, Yi He examined the Marquis of Jin and said this resulted from excessive intimacy with women, resembling a parasitic disease caused by confusion and loss of will, neither ghost nor food. He further discussed the six Qi and six pathogenic factors, irregular habits, and improper timing, summarizing the essential meanings of the fortune and qi chapters in the *Nei Jing*. This too is a medical case. Medical cases are like judicial verdicts; they require thorough insight into the root cause and rigorous treatment methods. However, unless one is a gentleman of broad learning and deep understanding of medical principles, one cannot discuss this.

Mr. Xingxuan published the *First Collection of Medical Cases* in the 9th year of Jiaqing. His prescriptions adapted flexibly to symptoms, demonstrating unique ingenuity, sufficient to serve as a model for later learners. Since then, his observations expanded, and the number of people he saved increased. He compiled several verified treatments into what became the *Second Collection*. Showing it to me, I read it repeatedly and sighed at his great talent and meticulous mind, noting how he followed the ancients without being bound by them. He distinguished deficiency and excess based on the disease, assessed cold and heat according to the season, considered dryness and humidity due to geography, and evaluated strength or weakness based on the individual. His techniques allowed him to guide the flow of Qi through the interstices, achieving a state where his hand moved with the object without relying on deliberate calculation. Therefore, I urgently requested its publication to benefit the world. The original woodblocks of his *First Collection* were unfortunately destroyed by fire. Now, both are being reprinted together, symbolizing two jade pieces forming a perfect pair (Jue).

Zhong Gai, in the winter of the Dinghai year of Daoguang, visited Yan Zhen seeking the Dao. I personally witnessed Mr. Xingxuan diligently seeking the mysteries of medicine, never putting down his books. Accumulating decades of extensive reading, his scholarship grew more profound with age. He is truly a gentleman of broad learning and deep medical expertise. I wish that from now on, Mr. Xingxuan would record his treatments daily, living from sixty (Zhoujia) to one hundred (Qiyi). May his miraculous elixirs endlessly save the world, and may his new compilations endlessly pass down to posterity. For the third and fourth editions, Zhong Gai, not daring to claim ignorance, voluntarily wrote this continuation of the preface, hoping to attach my name to the tail of a swift horse.

Respectfully prefaced by Zhu Zhong of Hongqiao.