典藏书目

When cholera is prevalent in the community, one must maintain strict defense to prevent invasion. After recovering from cholera, it is especially important to maintain defense to prevent recurrence. The ignorant do not understand this; they merely rely on talismans, treating them as a strategy for self-defense with troops, which is truly lamentable. To behave as usual with unrestrained indulgence, imitating the folly of "opening the door to invite thieves," is even more ridiculous.

If one wishes to resist chaos, the following measures are suggested:

1. In densely populated areas where epidemics are spreading, the local qi is hot, and turbid qi is also abundant. Therefore, lakes and ponds must be excavated to be broad and clear, and wells and springs should be numerous and sweet. Roads must be kept clear of accumulated filth. Or, widely dig wells and springs so that people do not drink turbid water. This can extend the lifespan of the people and silently eliminate epidemics. This is the primary strategy for crossing danger and guarding territory, not something we can achieve by merely talking while looking up at the roof; it requires action.

2. During times of displacement and migration, choosing a residence requires utmost caution. Regardless of the size of the house, it must be open, refreshing, well-ventilated, and clean. If forced to live in narrow, low-lying areas of markets, one should strive through human effort to create some space, leaving room for retreat, ensuring there is no dead end. One should not willingly suffer dampness during moldy seasons, heat during summer, or filth in daily life. These are dangers everyone can guard against. However, greedy men are blinded by wealth, and foolish men ignore harm; they play and relax without vigilance. When disaster strikes suddenly, they are left helpless.

3. Formerly, Fan Zhongyan (Fan Wenzheng Gong) would reflect before sleep on whether his day's food and actions were consistent. Although he ate only pickled vegetables and salted fish morning and night, being too poor to support himself, he often generously worried about the world's troubles. His upright character was sufficient to uphold human ethics; was he merely a man concerned with diet? Alas! These sixty-four characters are from a postscript by my old friend Yuan Lianfei, a commoner from Yichun. In my *Suiju Ju Chongding Huoluan Lun*, it is mentioned that if toxic food is consumed in winter, the internal organs become unclean first. Thus, turbid pathogens easily take advantage, seeking resonance with similar qi, which is inevitable. If one could emulate the sages, not just focusing on diet, but using surplus resources to dredge rivers, dig wells, distribute medicine, save lives, bury exposed corpses, and clean filth, one could not only protect oneself from disease but also accumulate virtue to change fate. This is not just a way to resist cholera.

4. My grandfather's family instruction forbade setting up deity statues, following the sage's attitude of "respecting spirits but keeping them at a distance." I am naturally not superstitious towards Buddhism; having grown up in Qiantang, I have never visited Tianzhu Mountain. Though poor and humble, I detest the theory of vegetarian fasting. My late mother scolded me, saying, "You pride yourself on being free-spirited, why do you mimic pedantic scholars?" I believed in karma and retribution, hence my reluctant adherence to fasting out of awe. Using divine ways to establish teaching, creating fasting dates to guide people, has twisted things significantly. Look at times of epidemic; do monks and nuns rarely die? This is evident proof. I respected and remembered my mother's teachings, finding them consistently accurate. I sigh that her words were not false. Thus, when entertaining guests in summer, I use only seafood, dried meat, fish, and shrimp. If guests claim vegetarianism, I use it to save costs, choosing light, pure, and bland foods. Recalling my life without suffering from Sha syndrome (sand/stagnation syndrome), I dare to share this method with the world.

5. Brewers must extract juices from various herbs to mix with rice for fermentation. The two tip leaves of newly sprouted plants belong to Yang, are potent and pungent, and can be used to make wine. If one gets drunk and suffers from Feishi (a TCM term for sudden severe abdominal pain or spasms), taking it warm can dispel Yin qi. However, unrestrained drinking inevitably causes disease, especially in summer. Mr. Liu Yuancheng of Song Dynasty said: "When I first arrived in the South, a high monk advised me: Southern earth is hot, and wine nature is also hot. Moreover, Lingnan is a miasma region; adding wine will surely trigger severe illness." Thus, upon crossing the岭 (mountain range), my family abstained from alcohol entirely. Despite harsh conditions where others died, our ten family members remained safe. Ten years after returning North, none suffered from miasma. This is the effect. Su Dongpo said: Qi Zhi had unmatched tolerance for wine, but now drinks none. Seeing this, those who claim "wine can ward off miasma" are dreaming. Miasma is brewed from hot, turbid, and foul toxins; similar qi attracts similar qi, making infection easy. Wine's damp-heat accumulates internally; once external pathogens enter, they combine, making the condition severe, difficult to treat, and slow to heal. Those indulging in wine, willing to die drunk, must abstain in summer, lest they die from sudden cholera.

6. The Way of Life begins with the *I Ching* (Book of Changes), stating: "Regulate diet." Confucius said: "Do not seek satiety in eating." Ying Xiulian said: "Measure the stomach's capacity to regulate intake." Lu You said: "Longevity is due to eating less." *Suiyuan Shihua* says: "Not being full is true blessing." Hunger, fullness, fatigue, and rest can all cause disease, but overeating and warmth are particularly conducive to illness. Thus, Shennong collected medicinal herbs alongside grains. The Yellow Emperor ensured turbid qi descended and clear qi ascended. Even if affected by external pathogens, they dissipate quietly without becoming disease. Only overeating blocks Stomach Qi, slows Spleen transport, and prevents the expulsion of external pathogens, leading to Sha distension and cholera. Therefore, in summer, rich foods should be avoided, and even regular meals should be moderated. Furthermore, taking Ginseng unnecessarily or eating cloying foods like Longan and Lotus Seeds for tonification blocks Qi mechanism. If Sha-foul pathogens are encountered, rescue is often impossible. This summer, Scholar Yu Xiaopo from Zhuji fled to Shanghai, living next to my relative-in-law, Scholar Chu Ziyun, who knew medicine. Upon returning from treating a patient, he ate a bowl of lotus seeds, felt uncomfortable, and immediately developed vomiting, diarrhea, and tendon twitching. He wanted me to diagnose him but couldn't. Because the pathogen received tonification, it could not be excreted and drove deeper. Thus, the crisis appeared so quickly, like abandoning defenses and waiting for death. Alas! How sad. (Note: Overeating is bad, but so is excessive hunger. Not being full does not mean starving. Know this. - Xie Cheng)

7. Eels and eel-like fish are hot and yang-assisting. Turtle is cold and yin-nourishing. However, some may be toxic, and in summer, snakes may transform into them (legend); do not taste lightly. Even if non-toxic, their texture and flavor are thick, cloying, and hard to digest. If external pathogens are absorbed and such food is eaten mistakenly, rescue is difficult. Market-cured meats are particularly foul and should be strictly avoided. (I have seen many cases of cholera caused by eating eels. - Xie Cheng)

8. Cold fruits and melons, though able to clear heat, if eaten excessively or suddenly, may suppress latent heat pathogens, preventing their dispersal. Overconsumption may also cause injury. Moderation is best. If there is no thirst, no sweating, and urine is not red, all cold foods are contraindicated.

9. Winter and summer bedding that is too warm can cause disease, especially in summer. If disease arises from warmth, or if one fears cold due to disease because heat is trapped internally and Qi cannot circulate, adding more cover will worsen mild cases and kill severe ones. There are cases where people have been dead for a long time without others knowing, like opening the door to bandits after the city has fallen. Some remain asleep to the danger. Pitiful. Do not overly crave coolness: bathing in the wind, sitting outdoors at night, opening windows during rain—all these abandon defenses and invite cholera. Must beware.

10. For well water in summer, add whole pieces of Alum (Bai Fan) and Realgar (Xiong Jing) to detoxify water and repel snakes. Soak Acorus rhizome (Shi Chang Pu) and Agarwood (Xiang) in water vats.

11. In humid and muggy weather, burn Rhubarb (Da Huang) and Artemisia capillaris (Yin Chen) indoors to resolve foul qi. Alternatively, roll Mugwort (Ai Ye) into ropes and burn them.

12. Grind Sichuan peppercorn (Chuan Jiao) into powder and apply to nostrils frequently to prevent inhaling foul qi. If slight inhalation occurs, take a few fen of Yushu Dan immediately. It is advisable to fast slightly to allow the pathogen to disperse; do not eat immediately, especially avoiding tonics. Tonics may aid the villain, like an inside accomplice to spies.

13. Regardless of age, strength, deficiency, excess, cold, or heat constitution, regularly using Loquat Leaf Decoction (Pipa Ye Tang) as tea can prevent all external seasonal pathogens. This is Master Ye Tianshi's method, seen in *Yi An Cun Zhen*. However, one must regulate daily life and diet. Do not think that because Ye's method exists, other precautions can be neglected.

14. Regardless of wealth, summer-appropriate foods include: winter-preserved dried vegetables, Radish (Lu Fu), Celery shoots, Water chestnut (Fu Zi), Luffa, Winter melon, Trichosanthes fruit (Gua Lou), Cowpea, Perilla, etc. Those who eat them find them coarse, unaware of their value. Alas! If one can endure eating vegetable roots, anything can be achieved. Not only will spiritual vitality not be buried, but one can also resist the disaster of sudden cholera.

Sudden cholera strikes unexpectedly. Gathering supplies and troops takes time. It is better to strike while the outbreak is initial. Therefore, methods like inducing vomiting, sneezing, scraping, acupuncture, and massage are recorded first. Detailed strategies for reconnaissance, response, discipline, and defense are listed later. Even women and children can understand prevention methods, protecting families and stopping the spread of malignant qi, avoiding the proverb "troops passing through a broken fence." Thus, treatment methods are listed second.