典藏书目

The Way of Medicine is vast and profound. Those who master its techniques can preserve their own bodies and benefit all things; therefore, renowned scholars and erudite gentlemen all study it extensively. However, there are two main treatment methods: acupuncture and moxibustion (Zhenjiu), and herbal prescriptions (Fangyao). Moxibustion follows acupuncture. In ancient times, when acupuncture was insufficient, treatments were separately categorized into prescriptions, using herbs to treat diseases. The two complement each other and neither should be neglected. It is only the meridians, acupoints, and intersections that are difficult to locate. Since the Han and Tang dynasties, practitioners of this art have mostly been experts in herbal prescriptions, while the transmission of acupuncture and moxibustion has been lacking. The treatment methods clearly recorded in the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) exist in vain, which is a pity for those with insight. Mr. Li Shanshu of our county loves learning and passed the imperial examinations at the Six Halls. He once pondered how to benefit the people through acupuncture but could not find the way. He had aspirations in this field, taking the theories of Huangdi and Qibo (mythical founders of Chinese medicine) as the main focus, and referring to various schools of thought. By consulting diagrams and reading books, he practiced after approximately five or six years of contemplation, demonstrating extreme diligence and caution. After more than ten years of practice, he revived hundreds or thousands of patients from near-death states. With such extensive experience, occasionally his methods transcended conventional techniques, achieving what is described as "skillfully utilizing Qi," which is possible only through mastery. Now that Mr. Li is old, fearing that the art of acupuncture might be lost, he compiled his insights and verified experiences into a single volume, titled *Zhenjiu Yixue* (Easy Learning of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). His aim is to widely disseminate it, bringing the world into an era of benevolence and longevity. This is indeed the intention of a benevolent gentleman. I appreciate his ambition and am pleased to recount this matter; thus, before the book is printed, I write this preface at the beginning.

Preface by Xu Tianxi of Zhucun, respectfully written on the full moon day of early spring in the 27th year of Daoguang, Great Qing.

The method of acupuncture and moxibustion has been esteemed since antiquity. Only physicians who have reached a sage-like level can grasp it completely. For others, if they can enter the difficult through the easy, deducing the unknown from the known, they can respond effectively. The profound and obscure aspects are hard to窥探 (peep into); once acupoints are correctly identified, although the details are numerous and fragmented, making sentences unreadable and unmemorable, finding the essence becomes impossible without guidance. Additionally, fear of syncope during needling (Yunzhen) and unclear manipulation techniques often lead to abandonment of practice due to perceived difficulty. This failure stems solely from not following the proper sequence. I studied acupuncture and moxibustion for six years in my youth without a single day of slackening, yet lacking oral instruction from a master, I lacked confidence, believing it beyond my capabilities. By the 51st year of Qianlong, I was fifty-one years old. At that time, malaria was prevalent, affecting nine out of ten people. I treated young and robust patients; among three treated, one recovered; among five treated on alternate days, three recovered. Thereafter, I further studied relevant texts, and subsequently achieved universal efficacy. Within twenty-two days, I obtained positive results for 437 individuals. Later, when treating miscellaneous diseases, results varied. With increased use of needles, I gained a rough internal grasp, and upon reviewing the works of various masters, I found that curing three out of ten cases became common, as did curing five or seven out of ten. This too represents entering the difficult through the easy, extending from the known to the unknown. As for profound and detailed matters, I have no personal attainment; only sages can achieve them. Herein, I present ancient methods first and my humble opinions later, aiming for clarity and ease of understanding, naming it *Zhenjiu Yixue*, to serve as a resource for future gentlemen to browse and learn.

Appendix Note:
When I was young and studying acupuncture, some advised against it, saying acupoints are difficult to locate. I realized the difficulty lies not in the points themselves, but in the manipulation techniques. If one understands the points but lacks clear manipulation skills, one cannot cure even a single disease throughout life. The Five Shu Points (Wushu: Jing-Well, Ying-Spring, Shu-Stream, Jing-River, He-Sea) are easy to know; the principal points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels are easy to know. Once one or two points are mastered, one can measure distances with a ruler and apply analogy, progressing from shallow to deep, knowing the latter through the former, thereby achieving medical proficiency. My initial training focused first on manipulation techniques, then on symptom differentiation, leaving point location as a secondary task, because the true difficulty does not lie there.

Recorded by Li Shouxian, courtesy name Shanshu, in the spring of the Wuwu year of the Jiaqing reign.