Mirror of Medicines

1. First read the four rhapsodies and drug contraindications in Volume One to establish the general framework of medicinal properties, then proceed to Volume Two for detailed reading drug by drug.
2. When reading each drug, take notes item by item under nature and flavor, channel entry, effects, indications, and compatibility, to facilitate cross-comparison.
3. Read in comparison with the familiar Medicinal Properties Rhapsody or formula books, noting the additions and detailed discussions in this book.
4. For specific drug use, always rely on the advice of professional physicians; reading notes serve only to understand the 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.