典藏书目

Mr. Kurizono Asada took it upon himself to clarify and promote our medical tradition, and his works have been disseminated in the world. Recently, he has collected the medical discussions of master craftsmen from the era of Emperor Yuan of Han onwards, edited and refined the texts, and named them *Xianzhe Yihua* (Conversations of Ancient Medical Masters). I received and read it; from Mr. Genzan down, there are thirteen masters in total. Their transcendent insights and unique perspectives have elucidated points not previously expressed by former sages, and their methods for diagnosis and treatment are precise, substantial, and clear. They embed profound utility in brief words and entrust flexible adaptation to single sentences; this can be called the standard of the medical forest.

Nowadays, the ancient heroes' strategies recorded in unofficial histories and wild accounts include those with divine calculations that are astonishing, those with bravery that is awe-inspiring, and those with unpredictable applications and transformations. However, due to their redundancy and lack of unity, people often casually fail to remember them. Once written by a good historian, they become refreshing and serve as models for all generations. This compilation was originally written in Japanese characters, mostly by disciples, so the colloquial language between them lost some elegance and became too shallow/easy, leaving readers dissatisfied. Now, after Mr. Asada's deletion and polishing, the literary style shines clearly, and the spiritual mechanism is active. It is like reading the battle strategies of good generals recorded by historians, making one跃然 (eagerly inspired). Mr. Asada is not only a Han Xin or Bai Qi of the medical forest, but perhaps also a Sima Qian or Ban Gu of the medical experts. Alas! The mediocre, shallow, and ignorant people show off the strange and compete with the unusual, using eloquence to deceive the vulgar and selling themselves merely for profit. This is why our medical path declines day by day without vigor. Therefore, whatever words benefit therapeutic techniques and expound truth, even if from modern people, should be recorded to spread them widely. How much more so for the legacy models of ancient sages that will guide for a hundred generations? In the past, someone who viewed the site of the Chu-Han war sighed that there were no heroes in those times, likely borrowing Liu Bang and Xiang Yu to lament the contemporary situation. If the heroes and talents recorded in this book were to appear today, there would surely be bold arguments and rapid debates to revive our declining medical path. This is likely Mr. Asada's intention in compiling this work, and I have long felt moved by this. When he requested an introduction, I did not decline and wrote this.

Third Month, Bingyin Year (Keio 2), Servant Physician at Kasama, Tana谷 Zenzen

Having written a preface for the book *Kokushi Meii Den* (Biographies of Famous Doctors of Our Country), I knew that there is also an Apricot Grove (metaphor for the medical profession) within Japan. Could there be no Orange Well (metaphor for healing medicine) among its trees and flowers? One ought to view Zuzhou as an Island of Immortals and transform Haiqiao into a Divine Mountain. However, that book only detailed names, hometowns, master-disciple transmissions, and matters of saving the country and people, while Sun Simiao's Dragon Palace Secrets were not compiled into chapters, and Ge Hong's Golden Casket Divine Prescriptions were not gathered into volumes. It merely caused later generations to linger in the past and admire the remaining virtues, sighing that Hua Tuo is no longer here.

This summer, Mr. Shi Bangfu, a Western-style tutor (Seiseki) in the Shogunate, suffering from acclimatization issues and improper care, suddenly developed Distending Swelling (Guzhang, abdominal distension with fluid accumulation), and the condition worsened rapidly. Thus, Mr. Asada was invited to examine him. After observing the pulse and administering decoctions, in less than three or four doses, the hardness in the abdomen vanished instantly like the bottom of a bucket falling out, and the illness was cured abruptly. Only then did I realize that when Bian Que came to Qi, treating disorders of the Couli (skin and interstices) was very easy; and when Taicanggong was in Han, resolving craniocerebral issues was no difficulty. Truly, "three fractures of the arm make a good doctor."

Recently, he brought the book *Xianzhe Yihua* again to request a preface from me. After flipping through it several times, I saw that certain masters treated certain diseases, observed certain signs, and used certain herbs. Their discussions were exquisite and outstanding, and their analysis was detailed and clear. Medicine was indeed orderly and systematic, and events were solid and verifiable. Thus, I understood that the sayings of the Supreme Jade Scripture are still transmitted to Lord Wang, and the prescriptions of the Hidden Immortal Lingbao are worthy of being learned from Luli. Therefore, the completion of this book is truly a ferry for later learners and a standard for medical practitioners. Hence, I inscribed a few words at the beginning of the slim volume.

Mid-Winter, Xu Yin Year (Guangxu 4), Imperial Envoy, Zhang Sigui of Siming, Wrote and Inscribed