Huangshi Neijing Jizun

Author: (Qing) Zhang Yinan (collected annotations), Sun Guozhong, Fang Xianghong (proofread)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: The book Suwen was composed by Emperor Huangdi and his ministers such as Yu Fu, Wu Peng, and others in a single hall of discussion. It elaborates on the fundamental principle of unity between heaven and humanity; clarifies the mechanisms of the alternation of yin and yang; studies the subtle changes in the flow of qi; explores the essence of nurturing life and subduing disease; investigates the workings of the cycles of cold and heat, the sun and moon; and delves into the successes and failures of the generation and transformation of form and qi. It is comprehensive and nearly exhaustive, leaving little room for further elaboration. However, the discussion of the continuity of life occupies half of the book, followed by the treatment of disasters and diseases, and then the methods of treatment. The aim is to ensure that all descendants in the world avoid calamities and thrive, truly embodying the great teachings of the sages!
Yet, the meaning of the classics is profound and the ancient words are concise. Without the right person, it is rare for anyone to fully understand their significance. For instance, the Yue Ren of the Zhou Dynasty, the Cang Gong of the Han Dynasty, the Huangfu Mi of the Jin Dynasty, the Wang Qixuan of the Tang Dynasty, as well as the renowned scholars of the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties—all have offered interpretations, yet none agreed entirely. Those who summarized the essence of the classics often sought it from a single angle; those who analyzed the details of the classics sometimes viewed them with bias. Some passages in the classics are clear in one context but obscure in another, perhaps due to the brevity or omission of the original text, leaving out profound discussions.
Master Yinan devoted his utmost concentration and effort, pondering deeply for five years of cold and heat, annotating the nine volumes of Suwen from the Neijing. Through day and night of contemplation, he extracted the essence of Huangdi and Qi, avoiding the borrowed words of predecessors and the dross of ancient arguments, instead engaging in profound study with his fellow scholars Gao Liang. The disciples who followed him, while engaged in proofreading, titled it Collected Annotations. What has already been said need not be repeated here; only what has not been mentioned should be emphasized for future scholars. This is the subtle intention behind Master Yinan’s annotations of the classics.