Preface to the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Gathered Gems of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Essentials of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and Pediatric Massage. Any gaps in the existing knowledge of acupuncture were thoroughly researched and compiled. Furthermore, I consulted the Basic Questions original: Sùwèn; the foundational theoretical text of Chinese medicine and the Classic of Difficult Issues original: Nànjīng to serve as the primary authorities, and these are documented in full within the Compendium of Acupuncture Methods original: Zhēnfǎ Gāngmù. I also commissioned skilled craftsmen at the Imperial Academy of Medicine original: Tàiyī Yuàn to engrave the Bronze Man Statue original: Tóngrén xiàng; a life-sized model used for teaching and testing acupoint locations on the reverse, clearly marking the acupoints and providing illustrated diagrams so that students might easily consult and understand them. I have concerns regarding the affairs of our time and feel ashamed that I have not offered even a "measure of an inch" original: cùn bǔ; a metaphor for a small contribution to help. I regret that I did not pursue this art in my youth; had I done so, I might have been able to aid people and benefit the world. It is for this reason that I have published this book.

...[ialty]. In the year 1573 original: yú zhōng yī; likely referring to the first year of the Wanli reign or the end of the Longqing era, I fell ill with paralysis and numbness original: wěibì; a condition involving the loss of movement or sensation in the limbs. Physicians followed one after another, and I tried nine different herbal formulas every day, but none could achieve success. It was then that I invited a famous acupuncturist, Yang Jizhou, to the capital gates. When he arrived, I was cured with just three needles. He then presented his family’s Secret Essentials for my review, and I realized that his skill was rooted in a profound tradition. I intended to send the work to the printers original: zǐ rén; literally "catalpa men," referring to woodblock carvers, yet I felt that the various schools of thought were still not fully represented. Therefore, I searched widely for additional texts, such as the Classic of Divine Response, the Ancient and Modern Medical System, the Vitality of Heaven and Earth, the Introduction to Medicine, the Elementary Medical Classic, and various volumes on acupuncture including...