马培之

Ma Peizhi is an important figure in the field of traditional Chinese external medicine, though public information about him is limited: his dates of birth and death, native place, and specific life experiences are not clearly recorded. Judging from his surviving works, his writings focus mainly on clinical practice in external medicine. Wai Ke Chuan Xin Ji and its other version present his organization and transmission of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in external medicine; the phrase "chuan xin" (passing on the flame) also suggests an intent to carry forward earlier experience for the benefit of later students. Ma Peizhi Yi An collects records of his clinical practice, reflecting his emphasis on pattern differentiation and on the practical application of formulas and medicinals. Together these three works are uniform in subject matter—medicine, with a particular focus on external medicine—and their style is largely practical, serving diagnosis and teaching. Although biographical details are difficult to verify, his case records and specialist writings on external medicine remain useful texts for later study of this branch of Chinese medicine and hold a certain value within traditional medical literature.