Preface to the Secret Essentials of the Profound Mysteries of Health-Preserving Acupuncture and Moxibustion

I have often heard it said that the Way of Medicine original: "Yī dào" (醫道); the philosophical and ethical path of a physician is connected to that of the Scholar original: "Rú" (儒); specifically referring to Confucian literati who studied the classics, and their achievements are equal in scope. Is it not because the Scholar exerts their mind to the utmost, and through the application of careful measures original: "jì liàng" (劑量); here used metaphorically to compare the "dosage" of herbal medicine to the "measures" taken in social governance, is able to bring peace and harmony to the entire world?

In the same way, the physician’s ability to restore the disabled original: "yīn" (瘖); specifically referring to those who are mute or unable to speak and revive those with chronic illnesses original: "kē" (疴), leading the people of the world toward a state of benevolence and longevity original: "rén shòu" (仁壽); a classical ideal where a well-ordered society and a healthy body lead to long life—their actions and merits are surely identical. However, if a Scholar cannot exhaustively study the Classics and return to their essential truths, then whatever they implement will inevitably result in contradictions in the end...