中卫大夫康州防御使句当龙德宫总辖修建明堂所医药提举入内医官编类圣济经提
医学臣曹孝忠奉敕撰
成周六典，列医师于天官，聚毒药以共医事。盖虽治道绪余，仁民爱物之意寓焉。圣人
有不
能后也。国朝阐神农书，康济斯民，嘉 中，两命儒臣，图经、补注、训义、剖治，亦已详
矣。而重熙累洽，文物滋盛，士之闻见益广，视前世书，犹可缉熙而赓续者。蜀人唐慎微，
近以医术称，因本草旧经，衍以证类、医方之外，旁摭经史至仙经、道书，下逮百家之说，
兼收并录，其义明，其理博，览之者，可以洞达。臣因侍燕间，亲奉玉音，以谓此书，实可
垂济。乃诏节使臣杨戬总工刊写，继又命臣校正而润色之。臣仰唯圣当天，慈仁在宥，诞
振三坟，跻民寿域，肇设学校，俾革俗弊；复诏天下进以奇方善术，将为《圣济经》，以幸
天下万世。臣以匪才，叨列是职，兢临渊谷。而证类本草诚为治病之总括，又得以厘而正之
，荣幸深矣。谨奉明诏，钦帅官联，朝夕讲究，删繁缉紊，务底厥理。诸有援引误谬，则
断以经传；字画鄙俚，则正以字说；余或讹戾肴互缮录之不当者，又复随笔刊正，无虑数千
；遂完然为成书，凡六十余万言，请目以《政和新修经史证类备用本草》云。政和六年九月
一日。中卫大夫、康州防御使、句当龙德宫总辖、修建明堂所医药提举、入内医官编类圣济
经提举、太医学臣曹孝忠谨序。
中卫大夫、康州防御使、主管龙德宫事务的总辖、修建明堂所的医药提举、入内医官、编类《圣济经》提举、太医学臣曹孝忠，奉皇帝诏令撰写。
周朝的《周礼·天官》中，设有医师一职，聚集毒药以处理医疗事务。这虽然是治国大道的剩余部分，但其中蕴含了仁爱百姓、爱惜万物的深意。这是圣人不能不重视的。本朝弘扬神农氏的医药著作，以救济百姓，在嘉祐年间和元丰年间，两次命令儒臣对《图经本草》进行补充注释、训释义理、剖析整理，已经非常详细了。然而，随着国家长期太平，文化日益兴盛，士人的见闻更加广博，认为前代的书籍仍有可以进一步整理续写的地方。蜀地人唐慎微，近期因医术闻名，他依据《本草》旧经，衍生出《证类本草》，并收录了医方，同时广泛搜集从经典史籍到仙经道书，以及百家学说，兼收并录，其义理明确，道理广博，阅读的人可以透彻理解。我在闲暇侍奉时，亲自聆听皇帝的圣旨，认为这本书确实可以流传以济世救人。于是下诏节度使杨戬负责总体工作并刊印书写，随后又命令我进行校正和润色。我敬思皇帝圣明，慈仁宽厚，振兴上古三坟之典，使百姓进入长寿之境，创办学校，革除世俗弊端；又下诏天下进献奇方善术，准备编纂《圣济经》，以造福天下万世。我以自己非才，忝列此职，如临深渊，如履薄冰。而《证类本草》确实是治疗疾病的总括，能够得以厘清并纠正其中的错误，深感荣幸。谨遵明确的诏令，恭敬地率领同僚，朝夕研究探讨，删去繁杂，整理混乱，务必穷究其理。对于引用的错误谬误，则依据经典传记来判定；字迹粗俗鄙陋的，则依据《字说》来纠正；其余如有讹误错乱、肴互（指文字混淆）或缮录不当的地方，又再次随手刊正，无虑数千处；最终完成此书，共六十多万字，请求命名为《政和新修经史证类备用本草》。政和六年九月一日。中卫大夫、康州防御使、主管龙德宫事务的总辖、修建明堂所的医药提举、入内医官、编类《圣济经》提举、太医学臣曹孝忠谨序。
Chengwei Dafu (Attendant Gentleman of the Middle Guard), Kangzhou Defense Commissioner, Director General of Longde Palace Affairs, Medical Supervisor for the Construction of the Mingtang Institute, Inner Court Physician, Supervisor for Compiling the *Shengji Jing*, and Scholar-official of the Imperial Medical Academy, Cao Xiaozhong, writes this preface by imperial decree.
In the "Heavenly Officials" section of the *Rites of Zhou* (Zhouli) from the Zhou Dynasty, a position for physicians was established, gathering poisonous substances to handle medical affairs. Although this pertains to the residual aspects of governance, it embodies the intent of benevolence towards the people and compassion for all living things. This is something sages cannot neglect. Our dynasty has promoted the works of Shennong (Divine Farmer) to benefit the people. During the Jiayou and Yuanfeng reigns, two edicts were issued ordering Confucian scholars to supplement and annotate the *Tujing Bencao* (Illustrated Materia Medica), explain its meanings, and analyze its contents in great detail. However, with prolonged peace and prosperity leading to flourishing culture, scholars' knowledge has broadened, suggesting that previous texts still warrant further refinement and continuation. Tang Shenwei, a man from Shu who recently gained renown for his medical skills, based his work on the ancient *Bencao* classics. He expanded upon them with the *Zhenglei Bencao* (Materia Medica Classified and Verified), included medical prescriptions, and extensively collected materials ranging from classical histories to Daoist scriptures and various schools of thought. By comprehensively collecting and recording these sources, he made the principles clear and the reasoning comprehensive, allowing readers to gain profound understanding. While attending to the emperor during leisure time, I personally received the imperial voice stating that this book is indeed worthy of being preserved to aid the world. Consequently, an edict was issued appointing Jiedushi Yang Jian to oversee the printing and publication, followed by my appointment to correct and polish the text. Reflecting on the Emperor's sagacity and benevolent governance, which revitalized ancient wisdom, extended longevity to the people, established schools to reform customs, and commanded the collection of miraculous remedies for the *Shengji Jing* (Holy Healing Classic) to bless future generations, I, unworthy as I am, hold this office with trepidation, feeling as if standing on the edge of an abyss or walking on thin ice. The *Zhenglei Bencao* is truly a comprehensive summary for treating diseases; to be entrusted with its correction brings me deep honor. Respecting the clear edict, I diligently led my colleagues to study day and night, removing redundancies, organizing chaos, and striving to uncover the underlying truths. For any erroneous citations, judgments were made according to classical texts; for vulgar or incorrect characters, corrections were applied based on the *Zishuo* (Explanation of Characters); other errors, confusions, or improper transcriptions were corrected on the spot, numbering thousands. Thus, the complete work was finalized, comprising over 600,000 characters, and named the *Zhenghe Xinxiu Jingshi Zhenglei Beiyong Bencao* (Imperially Revised Illustrated Materia Medica Classified and Verified for Emergency Use, Newly Revised in the Zhenghe Era). September 1, Zhenghe Year 6. Chengwei Dafu, Kangzhou Defense Commissioner, Director General of Longde Palace Affairs, Medical Supervisor for the Construction of the Mingtang Institute, Inner Court Physician, Supervisor for Compiling the *Shengji Jing*, and Scholar-official of the Imperial Medical Academy, Cao Xiaozhong, respectfully presents this preface.