Collected Formula Songs from the Golden Casket

1. First read through the relevant chapters of Jinkui Yaolue, then compare the verses with the original text to clarify each formula's source and indications.
2. Recite several verses daily, write out formula names from memory along with ingredients, and use the rhythm of the verses to aid long-term memory.
3. When encountering relevant formula-indications in practice, consult the verses and notes, then check the original clauses and dosage usage.
4. Read alongside Chen Xiuyuan's other annotated works to understand his choices and interpretive approach.

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.