典藏书目

Mr. Zheng Ruoxi was intelligent and fond of learning, having devoted himself to medical studies for many years. He paid particular attention to throat diseases, as throat medicine was a family tradition in his lineage. However, his book specifically discussed excess syndromes (Excess Syndromes) but did not cover deficiency syndromes (Deficiency Syndromes). Regarding the condition of "white putrefaction" (a type of severe throat infection characterized by white pseudomembranes), it has become more common in recent years. Physicians failed to examine carefully, acting cleverly on their own without observing complexion and pulse, and treated every case as an excess syndrome. Consequently, the number of patients who died prematurely was countless.

Ruoxi felt deeply sorrowful about this internally. He employed his unique insights, prescribing formulas based on syndrome differentiation (Syndrome Differentiation) to correct these errors, thereby enabling those suffering from this condition to attain longevity. Upon completion, he presented the manuscript to me. After reading it, I could not help but feel elated and respectful, saying to him: "Excellent! You have opened a clear path for the treatment of white putrefaction by establishing prescriptions for deficiency and dryness syndromes. Your merit is profound."

I reasoned that "white" corresponds to the color of the Lung (Lung), and "putrefaction" corresponds to the odor of the Kidney (Kidney). These are not diseases in themselves; they only become pathological when manifested externally. The presence of whiteness combined with putrefaction indicates Lung dryness; if putrefaction accompanies whiteness, it signifies Kidney exhaustion. Since both dryness and exhaustion exist, and the mother and child organs (referring to the Earth-Metal or Metal-Water relationship between Spleen/Kidney and Lung) are failing, if one does not moisten and tonify them, but instead persists in using cooling detoxification methods such as Zicao (Radix Arnebiae/Lithospermi) and Zhengbai Du (general term for cold-natured detoxifying herbs), one would be abandoning Yin to follow Yang, neglecting Yin fluids while burdening Yang Qi. The result would inevitably lead to everyone perishing like drowning victims. Your argument is correct. Is it not better to transmit this book to future generations rather than hiding it in mountains? To possess the virtue of cherishing life and sharing it with others—is this not good? Therefore, I wrote this preface to place at the beginning of the volume.

Written respectfully by Wu Shouxian, courtesy name Shaozhong, an old man of seventy-six, from Xintian.

My great-grandfather, Lord Chishan (named Han), was the seventh-generation ancestor. He had a natural inclination towards Fengshui (Geomancy) and studied traditional Chinese medicine classics (Xuanqi refers to Yellow Emperor and Qibo, representing TCM) extensively, with deep roots. Thus, knowledgeable physicians were abundant in our family, yet he never spoke lightly of medicine. My grandfather, Lord Renqi, met Mr. Huang Mingsheng from Fujian while conducting business. Mr. Huang transmitted throat medicine through special instruction, achieving miraculous cures and saving many lives, which my grandfather admired greatly. Thinking that relieving human suffering is most effectively achieved through this specialty, he intended to negotiate for instruction, but Mr. Huang refused. At that time, my uncle, Lord Yangshan, said to Lord Renqi: "To glimpse the master's secrets, one must act according to propriety." Thus, they prepared silk and gold worth one hundred taels, and Lord Renqi carried his study chest to Mr. Huang's door. Mr. Huang said: "It is not that I am stingy and unwilling to teach; there is a reason. When I received transmission, I made a vow not to pass it on. Violating this leads to the host having no heirs. Having been warned before, how can I break this promise now?" Lord Yangshan replied: "Now we earnestly request your secret teachings solely out of a desire to save people. If you can widely benefit humanity, you are benefiting yourself. Why would you not do so? Please consider this carefully." Finally, Mr. Huang agreed, produced the book for teaching, and instructed: "Treasure it." Lord Yangshan assented. Upon returning home, Lord Renqi ordered his father's generation and brothers to devote themselves to study. For all patients with excess-type throat diseases, treatment according to the method yielded miraculous effects. Meanwhile, Mr. Huang, nearing sixty, indeed died without offspring. Lord Yangshan brought back a portrait of Mr. Huang and enshrined it in the study room. For decades thereafter, many lives were saved. Later, a servant privately stole half of the manuscript and sold it to outsiders for profit, leading to widespread copying and transmission. Our family retained the original copy. Recently, practitioners in this field have all taken this book as their standard.

Although I (Han) am not particularly gifted, before reaching adulthood, my nature inclined towards medicine and geography. I associated with Mr. Cao Supeng from Jibei. Regarding medicine, I benefited greatly from my father's instructions and the advice of friends proficient in medicine. I traveled extensively through Chu, Yu, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Kuaiji, Suzhou, and Yangzhou, obtaining strange prescriptions from unusual persons, which often proved effective. I also met Mr. Ma Conglong, who resided at the Dacheng Ancient Temple on Wushan Mountain belonging to the Ma family. He said: "Without touring famous mountains and great rivers, and without climbing Mount Yuyue in Kuaiji, how can one speak of geography? Medicine is the same. Do you understand? One must have a broad and indifferent mind, absorbing the spiritual elegance of landscapes within the chest. Then, one will feel leisurely and unconfined, flexible and unstubborn." This is indeed true. Fang Zixiu once said: "I often comprehend the mechanisms of smallpox from Han dynasty seals." This statement truly captures the essence of this art.

This is not mere curiosity. The character "Dou" (smallpox/pox) means bean, not poison. Before manifestation, there is no form to grasp, so where is the poison? Even when it erupts onto the skin, appearing externally, if pus has not yet formed, one cannot rigidly classify it as poison. Only when pus forms can it be discussed as poison. However, poison is essentially a manifestation of Qi and Blood. The progression of pox—rising, growing, filling with pus, receding, scabbing, and falling off—relies entirely on Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang. When blood is sufficient and Qi is robust, Yin and Yang are harmonious, capable of transforming poison and carrying it out through Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive levels), thus ensuring recovery within the expected timeframe. If blood is deficient and Qi is weak, with Yin-Yang imbalance, how can poison be contained and delivered to the muscles? Moreover, customary practice involves using cold-natured drugs, harming innocent Qi and Blood, causing further injury. Poison then scatters with the disrupted Qi and Blood, sinking inward, turning into fatal syndromes that cannot be rescued. Whose fault is this? It is the harm caused by rigid adherence to the concept of "poison." Thus, this misconception runs deep and is hard to break; people prefer to die from cold-natured drugs without complaint. As for throat diseases and other conditions, they ultimately revolve around Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, Interior, Exterior, Excess, and Deficiency.

In the year Renzi, upon returning from Hanzhong, I harbored lifelong regrets (referring to bereavement) and had no recourse. I studied medicine day and night with my third brother, discussing and exchanging ideas to inherit our family learning. Suddenly, twelve years passed, and I realized how swiftly time flew. Considering that I am over fifty, my energy is declining, and geographical surveys require arduous travel, coupled with the sigh that understanding minds are rare (like Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi), I have detailed the distinctions between deficiency/excess and cold/heat in throat medicine accumulated over the years. I hope this guides future practitioners, preventing them from being criticized for being rigid and inflexible, thereby supplementing what this specialty lacks.

Written under the west window of the Ten Qin Studio by Zheng Han of the Shuangqiao Shufu clan, during the first ten days of the fourth month (Mengxia) of the Jiazi year, in the ninth year of the Jiaqing reign of the Great Qing Dynasty.