典藏书目

Mr. Tingjing of Suishui in Minzhong personally authored "Mu Jing Da Cheng" (Comprehensive Treatise on Ophthalmology) and wrote the preface and general principles himself. Prime Minister Wei Dingguo publicly commended and promoted it. The book is divided into sections on Theory, Symptoms, and Formulas, each further subdivided into Upper and Lower volumes.

Recently, the Deng clan from Jiangxi renamed it "Mu Ke Zheng Zong" (Orthodox Manual of Ophthalmology), removed its preface and general principles, arbitrarily altered the content, and claimed it as their own. However, Mr. Yinghuai of Yufeng, who is the direct grandson of Mr. Tingjing's clan brother, used the family-held manuscript to collate and print it, eliminating falsehoods and preserving truths, thereby completely restoring the original text. Alas! If ancestors' fields and houses are usurped by others, and descendants can clarify boundaries to restore the ancestral estate, they are still considered filial. How much more so for this book, which benefits the world, being the result of the author's personal insights, refined thoughts, and careful deliberation? How can it be allowed that arrogant and mediocre individuals alter even a single character, thereby causing endless harm? It is one thing if a person loses their sight; but it is unacceptable if a doctor loses their moral vision. A doctor with blind judgment causes harm limited to blinding dozens or hundreds of patients. But if one is already morally blind and seeks to blind the eyes of all doctors in the world and future generations, preventing them from distinguishing truth from falsehood, leading them blindly to follow one's actions and regard them as teachers, thereby collectively losing their moral vision—this disaster will not cease until all people with eyes in the world and future generations are blinded. Therefore, Mr. Yufeng's urgency in collating and publishing this book is to prevent the cause of such harm for all people with eyes in the world and future generations, not merely to protect his ancestor's work. His dedication is truly utmost. Mr. Yufeng has inherited the family medical tradition and conducts himself with the spirit of his ancestors. While residing in Xinzhou, his reputation spread widely. I particularly appreciate his resolve in collating and publishing this book, and thus write these words at the beginning of the volume.

Preface by Clan Elder Xiangquan of Shangrao in the Wuyin Year of Jiaqing (1818)

At the age of seventy-two, I was granted permission by the Holy Son of Heaven to retire to my fields, and further bestowed with a special imperial grace to advance to the First Rank. My success may well be attributed to this very matter.

Huang Tingjing was merely a poor scholar from Suishui, yet he sustained over twenty family members through his ophthalmic medical skills. One might expect him to value money above life, but observing his conduct and writings, they perfectly align with the demeanor of an upright official. Who would have thought that someone practicing within the realm of technical arts could achieve such profound depth? Thus, pleased, I wrote this preface and inscribed "Distinguished Scholar of Bamin" upon his biography as a gift. Although the Minister of Personnel is responsible for evaluating talent, this man possessed capable talents yet was not personally employed during his lifetime, instead wandering lakes and seas and gaining fame only as a good physician. Does this not make me feel even more ashamed?

Written by Wei Dingguo of Pingchang, Shenzhai