The year of Guihai during the Jiaqing reign [1803]

Xie’s Compiled Preface

...they offer no help to the work of governing. Yet, physicians treat the excesses of the Six Qi original: "liù qì"; the environmental factors of wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, and fire, distinguish the influences of the Five Directions original: "wǔ fāng"; referring to how different geographical regions affect the body’s constitution, and observe the causes of the Hundred Diseases. Their theories are fully documented in records and books, numbering no fewer than dozens or hundreds of volumes. Even those who specialize in this field have not been able to exhaustively master them. Unless one can synthesize these theories into a comprehensive understanding, I have yet to see their achievements match [those of the great masters]. I have often compared those who rigidly hold to formulas while waiting for a disease to manifest to the remnants of legalistic punishments this implies that treating symptoms with rigid rules, like harsh laws, is a low-level approach to medicine. As for Daoyin original: "dǎo yǐn"; ancient therapeutic exercises involving stretching and breathing, a precursor to Qigong—

—those who practice without medicine are following the legacy of Huang-Lao original: "Huáng-Lǎo"; a school of thought associated with Taoism that emphasizes naturalness and longevity. However, neither of these approaches is sufficient to achieve the results of total harmony, precisely because they deviate from the Confucian way.

Master Yang Jizhou of Sanqu modern-day Quzhou, Zhejiang was, in his youth, a candidate for the civil service examinations. He was widely learned and accomplished in literature, but after repeatedly facing misfortune at the hands of the examining officials, he eventually abandoned those pursuits to practice medicine. Medicine was, in fact, his family’s heritage. His grandfather served as an official in the Imperial Academy of Medicine original: "Tài Yī"; the elite medical institution serving the Ming imperial court, where he was bestowed with authentic secret teachings. He compiled and collected original: "zuǎn jí" verified medical formulas to be presented to the Emperor.