The *Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* was the only complete ancient medical masterpiece fortunate enough to survive to the present day.
According to unofficial histories and partial historical research, the Imperial Physician of the time risked decapitation to rescue it from a massive fire. Even then, the edges of the bamboo slips had already been burned, rendering the text incomplete. Over the subsequent dynasties, various medical practitioners like Huangfu Mi and Wang Bing poured their blood, sweat, and tears into re-compiling and restoring the *Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor*.
Meanwhile, during the Tang Dynasty, Japan was lucky enough to transcribe a complete handwritten copy of the text through their diplomatic envoys. Japan brought the manuscript back to its country, treating it as a supreme treasure. It was elevated to the status of a national artifact and carefully preserved within their imperial court and ancient temples.
