昔神农尝百草之滋味，以救万民之疾苦，后世师祖，由是本草之学兴焉。汉魏以来，名
医相
继，传其书者，则有吴普、李当之药录，陶隐居、苏恭等注解。国初两诏近（臣），总领上
医
，兼集诸家之说，则有《开宝重定本草》，其言药之良毒，性之寒温，味之甘苦，可谓备且
详矣。然而五方物产，风气异宜，名类既多，赝伪难别，以虺床当蘼芜，以荠 乱人参，古
人犹且患之，况今医师所用，皆出于市贾，市贾所得，盖自山野之人，随时采获，无复究其
所从来。以此为疗，欲其中病，不亦远乎？昔唐永徽中，删定本草之外，复有图经相辅而行
，图以载其形色，经以释其同异；而明皇御制又有《天宝单方药图》，皆所以叙物真滥，使
人
易知，原诊处方，有所根据。二书失传且久，散落殆尽，虽鸿都秘府，亦无其本。天宝方书
，但存一卷，类例粗见，本末可寻。宜乎圣君哲辅，留意于搜辑也。先是诏命儒臣，重校《
神农本草》等凡八书，光禄卿直秘阁（臣）禹锡、尚书祠部郎中秘阁校理（臣）亿、太常博
士集
贤校理（臣）颂、殿中丞（臣）检、光禄寺丞（臣）保衡，相次被选，仍领医官秦宗古、
朱有
章等，编绎累年，既而补注本草成书，奏御，又诏天下郡县，图上所产药本，用永徽故事，
重命编述。（臣）禹锡以谓∶考正群书，资众见，则其功易就；论著文本，出异手，则其体
不
一。今天下所上，绘事千名，其解说物类，皆据世医之所闻见，事有详略，言多鄙俚，向非
专壹整比，缘饰以文，则前后不伦，披寻难晓。乃以（臣）颂向尝刻意此书，于是建言奏请，
俾专撰述。（臣）颂既被旨，则裒集众说，类聚诠次，粗有条目。其间玉石、金土之名，草
木
、虫鱼之别，有一物而杂出诸郡者，有同名而形类全别者，则参用古今之说，互相发明；其
梗之细大，华实之荣落，虽与旧说相戾，并兼存之；崖略不备，则稍援旧注，以足成文意
；注又不足，乃更旁引经史，及方书、小说，以条悉其本原。若陆英为蒴 花，则据《尔雅
》之训以言之；诸香同本，则用《岭表录异》以证之之类是也。生出郡县，则以《本经》为
先，今时所宜次之。若菟丝生于朝鲜，今则出于冤句；奚毒生于少室，今乃来自三蜀之类是
也。收采时月有不同者，亦两存其说，若赤箭，《本经》但着采根，今乃并取茎苗之类是也
。生于外夷者，则据今传闻，或用书传所载，若玉屑、玉泉，今人但云玉出于于阗，不究所
得之因，乃用平居诲《行程记》为质之类是也。药有上中下品，皆用《本经》为次第。其性
类相近，而人未的识，或出于远方，莫能形似者，但于前条附之，若溲疏附于枸杞，琥珀附
于茯苓之类是也。又古方书所载，简而要者，昔人已述其明验，今世亦常用之，及今诸郡医
工所陈经效之药，皆并载其方，用天宝之例也。自余书传所无，今医又不能解，则不敢以臆
说浅见，附会其文，故但阙而不录。又有今医所用，而旧经不载者，并以类次，系于末卷，
曰“本经外类”；其间功用尤着，与旧名附近者，则次于逐条载之，若通脱次于木通，石蛇
次于石蟹之类是也。总二十卷，目录一卷。撰次甫就，将备亲览。恭唯主上，以至仁浓德，
函养生类，一物失所，则为之恻然。且谓札瘥荐臻，四时代有，救恤之惠，无先医术。蚤岁
屡敕近臣，酬校歧黄内经，重定针艾俞穴，或范金揭石，或镂板联编，悯南方蛊惑之妖，于
是作《庆历善救方》以赐之；思下民资用之阙，于是作《简要济众方》以示之。今复广药谱
之未备，图地产之所宜；物色万殊，指掌斯见；将使合和者，得十全之效。饮饵者，无未达
之疑；纳斯民于寿康，召和气于穹壤，太平之致，兹有助焉。（臣）学不该通，职预编述，
仰
奉宸旨，深愧寡闻。
嘉 六年九月日，朝奉郎太常博士充集贤校理新差和颖州军州兼管内劝
农及管句开治沟洫河道事骑都尉借紫（臣）苏颂谨上。\x
从前神农品尝百草的滋味，用来拯救万民的疾苦，后世效法祖先，因此本草之学兴起。从汉魏以来，名医相继出现，传承他们著作的，有吴普、李当之的《药录》，陶弘景、苏恭等人的注解。本朝初年两次下诏给近臣，统领御医，兼采各家学说，编成《开宝重定本草》，其中论述药物的良毒、性质的寒温、味道的甘苦，可以说是完备且详细了。然而各地物产不同，气候适宜性各异，药物名目繁多，真伪难以辨别，用毒蛇（虺）冒充蘼芜，用荠菜混淆人参，古人尚且为此担忧，何况现在医师所用的药材，都出自商人，商人所得药材，又来自山野之人，随季节采集收获，不再探究其来源。以此治病，想要中病，不是相差很远吗？从前唐高宗永徽年间，在删定本草之外，又有《图经》相辅而行，图画记载药物的形状颜色，经文解释其异同；而唐玄宗亲自撰写的又有《天宝单方药图》，都是用来叙述物品的真假，使人容易知晓，诊察处方有所依据。这两本书失传已久，散落殆尽，即使是皇家秘府，也没有它们的版本。《天宝方书》仅存一卷，大致可见其分类体例，首尾可以寻查。应当由圣明的君主和哲辅，留意于搜集整理此事。在此之前，下诏命令儒臣，重新校订《神农本草》等共八部书，光禄卿直秘阁臣禹锡、尚书祠部郎中秘阁校理臣亿、太常博士集贤校理臣颂、殿中丞臣检、光禄寺丞臣保衡，相继被选中，并带领医官秦宗古、朱有章等人，编纂多年，随后补注的本草成书，进呈皇帝，又下诏天下各郡县，图上所产药物标本，沿用永徽旧例，重新命人编述。臣禹锡认为：考正群书，借助众人的见识，则功效容易成就；论著文本，出于不同之手，则体例不统一。如今天下所上呈的，绘画者千余人，他们对药物种类的解说，都依据世医的见闻，事情有详略，言辞多粗俗，如果不是专门统一整理，加以文辞修饰，则前后不伦次，翻阅难以理解。于是推荐臣颂向来刻意钻研此书，因此建言奏请，让臣颂专门撰写编述。臣颂既然接受旨意，便收集众说，分类聚拢编排，大致有了条理。其中玉石、金土的名称，草木、虫鱼的区别，有一种药物杂出各郡的，有同名而形状类别完全不同的，便参用古今说法，互相阐明；其枝干的粗细，花实的荣枯，虽然与旧说相违背，一并保存；大略不完备，则稍引用旧注，以补足文意；旧注又不足，便再旁引经史，以及方书、小说，以详尽其本源。比如陆英就是蒴藋的花，就依据《尔雅》的解释来说明；各种香料同出一源，就用《岭表录异》来证明，等等。出产的郡县，以《神农本草经》为先，当今时宜次之。比如菟丝子产于朝鲜，现在却产于冤句；奚毒产于少室山，现在却来自三蜀，等等。采收时节有不同的，也两存其说，比如赤箭，《神农本草经》只记载采根，现在却连茎苗一起取用，等等。产于外国的，就依据当今传闻，或用书传所载，比如玉屑、玉泉，现在的人只说玉出于于阗，不探究得到的原因，便用平居诲《行程记》作为佐证，等等。药物分上中下三品，都用《神农本草经》为次第。其性质类别相近，而人们不能确切识别，或产于远方，无法形容相似的，就在前一条后附载，比如溲疏附于枸杞，琥珀附于茯苓，等等。又有古方书记载，简练而重要的，前人已经陈述其明显疗效，今世也常用，以及当今各郡医工陈述经过验证有效的药物，都一并记载其方剂，采用天宝的体例。其余书传没有记载，当今医生又不能解释的，不敢以主观浅见，附会其文，所以只是空缺不录。又有当今医生所用，而旧经未记载的，都以类编排，系于末卷，称为“本经外类”；其中功用特别显著，与旧名相近的，就次于逐条之后记载，比如通脱木次于木通，石蛇次于石蟹，等等。总共二十卷，目录一卷。编撰刚完成，准备供皇上亲览。恭敬地认为皇上，以至仁厚德，包容养育众生，如果有一物不得其所，就会为之悲伤。并且认为疫病流行，四季都有，救济之恩，没有比医术更重要的。早年多次敕令近臣，酬答校订岐黄内经，重新定针灸穴位，有的铸铜刻石，有的雕版连编，怜悯南方蛊惑人心的妖术，于是作《庆历善救方》赐给他们；思虑百姓资用的缺失，于是作《简要济众方》示给他们。现在又扩充药谱的未备之处，图示地产的适宜之物；万物色彩千差万别，指掌间即可看见；将使调和药物者，得到十全的效果；服用药物者，没有不达意的疑惑；将百姓纳入寿康，召唤和气于天地之间，太平的达成，这也有助于此。臣学识不通，职参与编述，仰奉皇命，深感自己见闻寡陋。
嘉祐六年九月日，朝奉郎太常博士充集贤校理新差和颖州军州兼管内劝农及管句开治沟洫河道事骑都尉借紫臣苏颂谨上。
In ancient times, Shennong tasted the flavors of hundreds of herbs to alleviate the suffering of the people. Later generations emulated their ancestors, and thus the study of Materia Medica (Bencao) arose. Since the Han and Wei dynasties, renowned physicians have appeared in succession. Those who transmitted their works include Wu Pu and Li Dangzhi's *Yao Lu* (Record of Medicinals), as well as annotations by Tao Hongjing and Su Gong. At the beginning of our dynasty, two imperial edicts were issued to close ministers, who led the imperial physicians and compiled theories from various schools, resulting in the *Kaibao Redefined Materia Medica*. Its discussions on the efficacy and toxicity of drugs, their cold and warm natures, and sweet and bitter tastes were indeed comprehensive and detailed. However, products vary by region, and climatic conditions differ. With numerous names and categories, distinguishing genuine from counterfeit items is difficult. Confusing venomous snakes (Hui) with Mirua herb (Miwu), or mixing shepherd's purse (Qicai) with ginseng, was a concern even for ancients. How much more so now, when physicians' materials come from merchants, whose supplies originate from mountain dwellers who harvest seasonally without investigating origins? Using such sources for treatment makes it unlikely to hit the mark accurately.
During the Yonghui era of the Tang Dynasty, alongside the revised Materia Medica, an illustrated manual (*Tujing*) was produced to complement it. Illustrations depicted shapes and colors, while texts explained similarities and differences. Emperor Xuanzong also authored the *Tianbao Single Prescriptions Medicine Illustrated Manual*, both intended to clarify authenticity and facilitate diagnosis and prescription. These books have been lost for a long time, scattered almost entirely; even the imperial library lacks copies. Only one volume of the *Tianbao Formulas* remains, showing rough classifications and traceable structure. It is fitting for wise rulers and ministers to pay attention to collecting these works. Previously, an edict ordered scholars to re-collate eight books including the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Ministers Yu Xi, Yi, Song, Jian, and Baoheng were selected, along with medical officials Qin Zonggu and Zhu Youzhang, to compile over several years. The supplemented Materia Medica was completed and presented. Another edict ordered all prefectures and counties to submit illustrations of local medicinal plants, following the Yonghui precedent. Minister Yu Xi argued that correcting texts benefits from collective insight, but unified style requires a single author. The submitted illustrations numbered in thousands, with explanations based on contemporary physicians' observations. Details varied, and language was often vulgar. Without specialized editing and literary refinement, the content would be inconsistent and hard to read. Therefore, Minister Song was recommended due to his prior dedication to this subject. Upon receiving the mandate, he collected various accounts, categorized them, and established a basic framework. For minerals like jade and metals, and biological distinctions among plants, insects, and fish, where one species appeared in multiple regions or shared names but differed in form, he integrated ancient and modern views to elucidate meanings. Regarding stem thickness and flowering/fruiting states, even if conflicting with old records, he preserved them. Where summaries were incomplete, he supplemented with old notes; if insufficient, he cited classics, histories, medical formulas, and novels to trace origins. For instance, identifying Luying as the flower of Shuodiao relied on the *Erya*; verifying aromatic herbs sharing roots used the *Lingbiao Luyi*. Origins prioritized the *Bencao Jing*, followed by current locations (e.g., Cuscuta originally from Choson, now from Yuanju; Xidu originally from Shaoshi Mountain, now from San Shu). Harvest times with variations were recorded bilaterally (e.g., Atractylodes lancea root only in *Bencao Jing*, but stems and leaves now included). Foreign drugs relied on current reports or texts (e.g., Jade dust/source from Khotan, supported by Pingjuhui's travel records). Drug rankings followed the Upper, Middle, and Lower classes of the *Bencao Jing*. Similar substances unrecognized or distant were appended to previous entries (e.g., Philadelphus attached to Lycium; Amber attached to Poria). Simple, effective ancient prescriptions and verified modern remedies were included, following the Tianbao example. Unrecorded or unexplained items were omitted rather than speculated upon. New drugs not in old canons were added at the end under "Supplementary Categories Outside the Bencao Jing," with highly effective ones near similar old names (e.g., Tuo Mu near Mu Tong; She Snake near Shi Xie). The work totals twenty volumes plus a directory. Upon completion, it was prepared for imperial review. His Majesty, possessing supreme benevolence, cares for all living things. Recognizing that epidemics occur in all seasons and medicine is the primary relief, he previously ordered the collation of the *Neijing*, revision of acupuncture points, creation of bronze/stone models, and compilation of books like the *Qingli Shanjiu Fang* and *Jianyao Jizhong Fang* to aid the people. Now, expanding the pharmacopoeia and illustrating local produce allows clear identification of myriad substances, ensuring therapeutic success and resolving doubts, thereby promoting health and harmony, contributing to peace. I, Song, though lacking profound knowledge, participated in this compilation under imperial command, feeling ashamed of my limited learning.
Submitted respectfully by Su Song, on the ninth day of the ninth month of the sixth year of Jiayou.