Preface to the Inner Canon original: 內經序 (Neijing xu). The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor is the foundational text of Chinese medicine.

The Properties of Medicines (Yaoxing) and the Rhymed Summaries of Formulas (Tangtou gekuo) These refer to popular, simplified mnemonics used by students to memorize herbal traits and prescriptions quickly. have thus become a convenient shortcut used merely as a means to make a living.

Regarding ancient medical science, these practitioners have likely never even heard its general outlines. Therefore, they frequently use the "Way of saving lives" to kill people. As traditional Chinese doctors show off [their meager skills], they are denounced by the world; consequently, the masses turn toward Western medicine, awestruck as if they were encountering ghosts or gods.

Now, whether the Western medical books of old contained profound subtleties or not, I cannot know. I only consider the recently translated works on Anatomy (Quanti shu) original: 全體術 (quanti shu); literally "the art of the whole body." This was an early term used for Western anatomical studies in the 19th century., physiology, and various methods of diagnosing illness...