New Guide to Medical Ancient Chinese

Author: Editor-in-Chief: Xi Shiliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-06-01
Features: Excerpt: 【Original Text】Danxi Weng was a native of Yiwu in Wuzhou, surnamed Zhu, styled Zhenheng, and known by the scholars as Danxi Weng. Weng was fond of learning from a young age, memorizing a thousand words daily. As he grew older, he studied Confucian classics with local teachers and prepared for the imperial examinations. Later, he heard that Xu Wenyi Gong had acquired the Qu Chuan (fourth-generation transmission) of Zhu Xi's learning and was lecturing on the theory of the Way at Ba Huashan, so he went to pay respects to him. He gradually became familiar with the theory of morality and life, which was profound, deep, and meticulous, and thus became an expert in it. One day, Xu Wenyi said to him, "I have been bedridden with illness for a long time, and only a skilled physician can cure me. You are exceptionally intelligent—would you be willing to pursue the art of medicine?" Weng, whose mother suffered from a spleen ailment and had a basic understanding of medicine, was moved upon hearing Xu Wenyi's words and said, "If a scholar masters an art and uses it to promote benevolence that extends from oneself to others, even if he does not hold office in his time, it is as if he were serving as an official." Thus, he completely abandoned his previous studies for the imperial examinations and devoted himself entirely to medicine. 【Annotations】① Wuzhou (wù): Wuzhou Prefecture. Now the region of Jinhua, Zhejiang. Yiwu: County name. ② Hui: In ancient times, the names of deceased emperors or respected elders were referred to as "hui," showing respect. ③ Zun: Adjective used as a verb. To honor as. ④ Ri: Noun used as an adverb. Daily. Yan: Character. ⑤ Siao: Gradually. Chang: Grown. ⑥ Zhi Jing: Studying Confucian classics. ⑦ Ju Zi Ye: Studies for the imperial examinations. In ancient times, talent selection involved recommendations and persuasion during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods; the Han Dynasty had the system of appointing filial sons and incorrupt officials; by the Tang Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian introduced the imperial examinations, which were adopted by subsequent dynasties. ⑧ Xu Wenyi: Xu Qian, a Yuan Dynasty Confucian scholar from Jinhua, author of works such as "Discussions on Reading" and "White Cloud Collection." Gong: Honorific. Zhu Zi: Refers to the Confucian scholar Zhu Xi. Qu Chuan: The fourth-generation transmission of Zhu Xi's learning. ⑨ Yan: Of. Refers to Xu Wenyi. ⑩ Yi Wen: Gradually learned. The theory of morality and life: Refers to Zhu Xi's "theory of nature and principle." Zhu believed that the nature of humans and things was innate, and that nature was principle, with human nature being the embodiment of the principle of Heaven in humans. ⑾ Hong Shen Cui Mi: Grand, profound, refined, and meticulous. ⑿ Zhuan Men: An expert. A renowned figure in a particular field of study. ⒀ Qi: Causing to move. To cure. Zhi: Personal pronoun, I. ⒁ Qi: Interchangeable with "qi." Whether. A polite particle indicating a soft tone. You: To engage in the art. ⒂ Yi: Because. Bing: Used as a verb. Suffering from. Pi: Refers to the spleen. ⒃ Cu Xi: Roughly knowledgeable. ⒄ "Yi Tui" sentence: To promote benevolence that extends from oneself to others. Yi, used. Ji Wu Zhi Ren. Refers to benevolence that extends from oneself to others. Wu, all things. In the text, it refers to others. ⒅ You Shi: Equivalent to serving as an official. ⒆ Fen Qi: A compound word with a bias toward "qi," meaning to discard. Xiang: Former. ⒇ Yi: Single-minded; wholehearted. 【Translation】Danxi Weng was a native of Yiwu in Wuzhou, surnamed Zhu, named Zhenheng, styled Yanxiu, and honored by scholars as "Danxi Weng." From a young age, he was fond of learning, memorizing a thousand words daily. As he grew older, he studied Confucian classics with local teachers and prepared for the imperial examinations. Later, he heard that Xu Wenyi Gong had acquired the Qu Chuan (fourth-generation transmission) of Zhu Xi's learning and was lecturing on the theory of the Way at Ba Huashan, so he went to pay respects to him. He gradually became familiar with the theory of morality and life, which was profound, deep, and meticulous, and thus became an expert in it. One day, Xu Wenyi said to him, "I have been bedridden with illness for a long time, and only a skilled physician can cure me. You are exceptionally intelligent—would you be willing to pursue the art of medicine?" Weng, whose mother suffered from a spleen ailment and had a basic understanding of medicine, was moved upon hearing Xu Wenyi's words and said, "If a scholar masters an art and uses it to promote benevolence that extends from oneself to others, even if he does not hold office in his time, it is as if he were serving as an official." Thus, he completely abandoned his previous studies for the imperial examinations and devoted himself entirely to medicine.