维大宋绍兴十六年丙寅月，武翼郎臣窦材奏启玉皇上帝玉陛下。
臣闻上天好生而恶死，下民畏死而贪生，上天虽云恶杀，但示劝惩于下民，非其人而杀之者有之。下民虽曰
贪生，但归生死于天命，而致枉死者有之，皇天悯下民之疾苦，故假神农、黄帝、岐伯、雷公、扁鹊、俞跗等，
以立医教，救人灾病。历世绵远，屡遭兵火，其神书散亡，仅存者《灵枢》、《素问》而已，虽不尽传宗派，
是亦能救人疾苦，保人性命，但少洞彻脏腑、刳肠、涤髓之神耳。（果能参悟《灵》、《素》，自然洞见脏腑，
至于刳肠涤髓，乃后世法之巧，而用之神。惜乎此书无传，谅亦不过一技术之妙，岂如《灵》、《素》之贯天
人，晰隐显，大无不包，细无不入，为万世理道之神书，救人之秘典哉。）后世仲景采《内经》外感风寒之旨，
附以己见，定立方法，及采杂证七十余条，集为《伤寒》、《金匮》。后之学人，咸遵守莫敢移易。殊不知伤
寒既有多证，《内经》自然该载，何必牵扯种种杂病，以为伤寒，误人不少（果能遵循仲景之法，岂有误人。
惟后学不明其旨，妄为注解，各执己见，未免穿凿，希冀立名，遗讹后世，将为仲景之功臣，实为仲景之罪人。
千百年来，明伤寒法者有几人哉）。嗣后叔和、思邈又附益之，障蔽圣经，遗讹后世，且《经》云∶伤寒为病
身热，热虽甚不死。论中风曰，中五脏俞穴，则为偏风；论水胀
曰，因气为肿；论厉风曰，地之湿气，感则害人皮肉筋脉。如此言之，其旨深，其意广，后之人欲移难就易，
妄为穿凿。且举伤寒之证，真邪相传，真气盛则病愈，邪气盛则病死；阳证无死入之理，阴证害人甚速，须加
灸艾，方保无虞。仲景立许多承气汤，使后人错用，致寒凉杀人于顷刻也。（三承气汤恶能害人。后学不明阴
阳承制之道，而妄用承气者害之耳，于仲景何尤？）
臣因母病，用仲景之法不效，遂成不救，痛心疾首，精究《内经》，又得皇天默授，经历十年方得灵验。
凡一切大病小疾，只以此法，触类引申，效如影响。臣苦志五十余年，悟得救人秘法已十余年矣。向因薄宦，
奔走四方，今年过不逾，常虑身填沟壑，其书失传，遂欲考订发梓，伏望皇天后土，特加慈悯，保生民于仁寿
之域，俾其书万世通流，臣虽死无憾。设有一言不实，甘受天殃。若此书果益于后世，伏望神天护佑，以广其
传。（设此重誓，以质上帝，则其立心切于天下后世可知。学人不可谓偏于从热而忽视之，以负先生一片救世
婆心。）臣诚惶诚恐冒罪以闻。
大宋绍兴十六年丙寅月，武翼郎臣窦材向玉皇上帝陛下奏启。
我听说上天喜好生命而厌恶死亡，百姓畏惧死亡而贪恋生存。上天虽然声称厌恶杀戮，但只是向下民展示劝善惩恶的道理，杀害不该杀的人的情况是存在的。下民虽然说是贪恋生存，但将生死归于天命，导致无辜枉死的情况也是存在的。皇天怜悯下民的疾苦，所以借助神农、黄帝、岐伯、雷公、扁鹊、俞跗等人，来建立医教，拯救人们的灾病。
历经岁月漫长，多次遭遇战火兵祸，那些神妙的医书散失亡佚，仅存的只有《灵枢》和《素问》罢了。虽然它们没有完全传承宗派秘法，但也能够救人疾苦，保全人性命，只是缺少洞察脏腑、剖开肠道、洗涤骨髓的神妙手段。（如果能参悟《灵枢》和《素问》，自然能洞见脏腑内部情况，至于剖肠涤髓，那是后世医术技巧的巧妙之处，运用起来很神妙。可惜这本书没有流传下来，估计也不过是一种技术上的奇妙，哪里比得上《灵枢》、《素问》贯通天人、阐明隐显、大到无所不包、细到无所不入，作为万世理道的神书，救人的秘密典籍呢？）
后世张仲景采集《内经》中关于外感风寒的宗旨，附上自己的见解，确立治疗方法，又采集杂症七十多条，汇编成《伤寒论》和《金匮要略》。后来的学人，都遵守不敢改变。却不知道伤寒既然有多种证候，《内经》自然已经包含记载，何必牵强附会各种杂病，把它们当作伤寒，误导了不少人（如果能遵循仲景的方法，怎么会有误人的情况。只是后学者不明白其中的宗旨，胡乱进行注解，各自坚持己见，难免穿凿附会，希望借此立名，把错误遗留后世，自认为是仲景的功臣，实际上是仲景的罪人。千百年来，真正明白伤寒法的人有几位呢？）。
此后王叔和、孙思邈又在此基础上增加补充，遮蔽了经典原意，给后世留下错误。而且《内经》说：伤寒这种病身体发热，即使热势很严重也不会死亡。论述中风时说，邪气中入五脏俞穴，就会成为偏风；论述水胀时说，因为气滞导致肿胀；论述厉风时说，地上的湿气，感受了就会伤害人的皮肉筋脉。像这样说来，其旨意深远，其含义广博，后来的人想要化难为易，胡乱穿凿附会。
并且列举伤寒的证候，真是邪气相互传变，真气旺盛则病愈，邪气旺盛则病死；阳证没有死亡的道理，阴证害人非常迅速，必须加用灸艾疗法，才能保证没有忧患。张仲景设立了许多承气汤，使后人错用，导致寒凉药物在顷刻间杀人。（三承气汤怎么能害人。只是后学者不明白阴阳承制的道理，而胡乱使用承气汤害死人罢了，这怪张仲景什么呢？）
我因为母亲生病，使用仲景的方法无效，最终没能挽救，痛心疾首。于是精心研究《内经》，又得到上天的默示传授，经历十年才获得灵验的效果。凡是一切大病小疾，只用这种方法，触类旁通引申应用，效果如同回声和影子一样迅速准确。我刻苦立志五十多年，领悟救人秘法已经十多年了。先前因为官职低微，奔走四方，现在年龄不超过六十岁，常常担心自己死后尸填沟壑，这些书失传，于是想要考证订正并刻印出版，恳望皇天后土，特别加以慈爱怜悯，保护百姓处于仁爱的长寿领域，使这本书万世流传，我即使死了也没有遗憾。如果有一句话不真实，甘愿承受天灾惩罚。如果这本书确实有益于后世，恳望神天护佑，以广泛传播它。（立下如此重誓，以质问上帝，那么他心系天下后世的心意之迫切就可以知道了。学人不可以说他偏重于从热论角度而忽视其他方面，从而辜负了先生一片救世的婆心。）我诚惶诚恐，冒犯罪责以此上闻。
In the month of Bingyin during the 16th year of Shaoxing of the Great Song Dynasty, Chen Dou Cai, holding the title of Wuyi Lang, submitted a memorial to His Majesty, the Jade Emperor.
I have heard that Heaven loves life and hates death, while the people below fear death and crave life. Although Heaven claims to detest killing, it merely demonstrates encouragement for good and punishment for evil to the people below; there are instances where those who should not be killed are slain. Although the people below say they crave life, attributing life and death to the Mandate of Heaven, there are instances of innocent lives lost in vain. The Supreme Heaven pities the suffering of the people below, thus employing Shennong, Huangdi, Qibo, Leigong, Bian Que, and Yufu to establish medical teachings to save people from disasters and illnesses.
Through long ages and numerous wars and fires, divine medical texts have scattered and perished; only the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) remain. Although they do not fully transmit the secret lineages, they can still relieve human suffering and preserve human life, yet they lack the divine ability to perceive internal organs, excise intestines, and cleanse marrow. (If one can comprehend the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, naturally one will perceive the internal organs. As for excising intestines and cleansing marrow, these are the clever techniques of later generations, applied with divine efficacy. Alas, this book has not been transmitted; it is likely nothing more than a marvel of technique, how could it compare to the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, which connect Heaven and humanity, clarify the hidden and the manifest, encompass all that is great, penetrate all that is minute, serving as the divine text of principles for ten thousand generations and the secret canon for saving lives?)
Later generations, Zhang Zhongjing, collected the principles of external contraction of wind and cold from the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon), appended his own views, established methods, and collected over seventy miscellaneous syndromes, compiling them into the *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) and *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet). Scholars of later times all adhered to these without daring to change them. Little did they know that since Shang Han has multiple syndromes, the *Nei Jing* naturally contains them; why force various miscellaneous diseases to be classified as Shang Han, thereby misleading many people? (If one follows the methods of Zhongjing, how could there be misleading? It is only that later scholars did not understand its purport, made arbitrary annotations, each sticking to their own views, inevitably resorting to forced interpretations, hoping to establish fame, leaving errors for future generations. They consider themselves meritorious servants of Zhongjing, but are actually sinners against him. In thousands of years, how many have truly understood the method of Shang Han?)
Subsequently, Wang Shuhe and Sun Simiao added further supplements, obscuring the sacred classics and leaving errors for posterity. Moreover, the Classic states: "The disease of Shang Han involves body heat; even if the heat is severe, death does not ensue." Regarding wind stroke, it says, "If the pathogen strikes the Shu points of the five Zang organs, it becomes hemiplegic wind." Regarding water swelling, it says, "It arises from Qi stagnation causing swelling." Regarding leprosy-like conditions, it says, "The dampness of the earth, when contracted, harms the skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels." Thus speaking, the purport is profound and the meaning broad. Later people, wishing to make difficulties easy, arbitrarily engage in forced interpretations.
Furthermore, regarding the syndromes of Shang Han, it is truly the transmission of true Qi and pathogenic factors; when true Qi is vigorous, the illness recovers; when pathogenic factors are vigorous, death occurs. Yang syndromes have no rationale for death; Yin syndromes harm people very rapidly, requiring the addition of moxibustion with mugwort to ensure safety. Zhang Zhongjing established many Chengqi Decoctions, leading later generations to misuse them, resulting in death within moments due to cold-cooling herbs. (How could the Three Chengqi Decoctions cause harm? It is only that later scholars, not understanding the way of Yin-Yang mutual restriction, used Chengqi Decoctions recklessly, causing harm. What fault lies with Zhongjing?)
Because my mother was ill, using Zhongjing's methods proved ineffective, and she ultimately could not be saved, causing me heartache and grief. I then meticulously studied the *Nei Jing*, and through silent instruction from Heaven, after ten years, achieved effective results. For all major and minor illnesses, by using only this method and extending it by analogy, the efficacy is as immediate as an echo or shadow. I have devoted myself with bitter determination for over fifty years and have comprehended the secret method of saving lives for over ten years. Previously, due to a low-ranking official post, I traveled everywhere. Now, approaching sixty years of age, I often worry that upon my death, my body will fill the ditches, and these books will be lost. Therefore, I wish to collate, verify, and print them. I earnestly hope that Heaven and Earth will bestow special compassion, protecting the people in the realm of benevolence and longevity, allowing this book to flow for ten thousand generations. Even if I die, I shall have no regrets. If a single word is untrue, I willingly accept heavenly calamity. If this book indeed benefits future generations, I earnestly pray for divine protection to widely disseminate it. (By making such a solemn oath to question the Supreme Emperor, it is evident how urgently his heart is set on the world and future generations. Scholars must not claim he biased towards heat syndromes and ignored others, thereby failing Mr. Dou's compassionate heart to save the world.) I am filled with awe and trepidation, presumptuously reporting this despite potential guilt.