肘后备急方

Physicians, where are they to turn for guidance? Moreover, in remote villages and distant lands, when illness occurs there is no physician, and when prescriptions exist there are no medicines; those who escape premature death are few indeed. Ge Zhichuan of Danyang, having thoroughly examined the doctrines of physicians ancient and modern, and having verified that their formulas were concise, essential, and easily obtainable, and that the measurements of needling and moxibustion were easy to understand, and that they could surely save the dying, composed the Zhouhou Beiji Fang (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies). Thus one who is ill and obtains it, though there be no Han Boxiu, has medicines in his own home; though there be no Feng Junda, anyone can act as physician—truly fitting for emergencies. Tao Hongjing of Huayang said: This work of Ge's has indeed greatly benefited the world, but having been in use for a long time, it is not without errors. Thereupon he composed the Baiyi Fang (Formulas for a Hundred and One Ailments), annotating it after the Beiji, correcting the erroneous and supplying the missing, appending methods of preparation and administration of drugs and foods, complete in the smallest detail, and further distinguishing internal, external, and other afflictions into three categories, so that without laborious searching one may open the scroll and see the disease—all the more fitting for emergencies. Both Master Ge and Master Tao were universally known as men of the Way, versed in all learning and proficient in all arts, yet even they took years to complete these compilations, for each formula and each discussion was recorded only after trial—not merely selected for being simple and easy. If a person can keep a copy in every household, then when illness comes and a formula is obtained, the formula will surely cure the illness. It is like entering Bian He's shop where all is fine jade, or Bo Le's stables where none but steeds—can one treat it lightly and neglect it? Ge himself said in his preface: If people can believe in it, they may avoid premature calamity—the meaning is clear. Since the great upheavals of heaven and earth, this work has been nearly lost, and the few copies that survive are treasured privately—how could this be the original intent in composing the formulas? The commander Wu Hou had long suffered from various ailments, and in the leisure of official study he applied his mind to medicine. Formerly, as inspector of the Henan and Hebei circuits, he obtained this work from the Guo family of Pingxiang; the Guo family's father-in-law had gotten it from the palace stores of Bian. Amidst turmoil, it survived or perished with his person, and he never lightly showed it to others—that it comes forth now is Heaven's will. The Hou ordered it engraved to hasten its completion, fearing only that the sick might see the formulas too late. Yet the appearing or obscuring of a formula is bound up with people's life and death, sorrow and joy. Its coming forth has its time, and the hidden pain and compassion, urgent as this, is the heart that cannot bear to see others suffer. Having the heart that cannot bear to see others suffer, one has the government that cannot bear to see others suffer—then is the Hou's benevolence to the people merely a single book of formulas? The coming forth of the formulas is the manifestation of my benevolent heart; therefore, commanded to write a preface, I specially record its beginning and end to inform those who do not yet know. Inscribed by Duan Chengji of Jiting in the last month of autumn of the Bingzi year of Zhiyuan.