According to the Records of the Grand Historian — Heguanzi, King Wen of Wei asked Bian Que: “Among you and your two brothers, who is the most skilled in medicine?”
Bian Que replied: “My eldest brother is the most skilled, my second brother is next, and I, Bian Que, am the least skilled.”
King Wen of Wei asked: “May I hear the reason?”
Bian Que said: “My eldest brother can perceive the spirit of illness — he eliminates diseases before they even take form, so his name never leaves our household. My second brother treats illnesses when they are still superficial, so his name never goes beyond our village. As for me, Bian Que, I cut into blood vessels, administer potent drugs, and cut through flesh and skin — and thereby my name has spread among the feudal lords.”
Translation of the Passage
Bian Que was a famous physician during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.
Once, Marquis Wen of Wei asked Bian Que: “I’ve heard that all three brothers in your family studied medicine. So whose medical skill is the highest?”
Bian Que said: “My eldest brother’s skill is the highest, my second brother’s is next, and mine is the worst.”
Marquis Wen asked in surprise: “Then why are you the only one famous throughout the land, while neither of them has any reputation at all?”
Bian Que explained: “My eldest brother’s medical skill is so high that he can prevent illness before it occurs. Before a person’s disease even manifests, a single glance at their complexion tells him everything, and he prescribes medicine to regulate their health. So the whole world thinks he cannot cure diseases at all, and he has no reputation whatsoever.
“My second brother’s ability lies in treating diseases at their earliest stage, preventing them from becoming serious. When someone first develops a cold or cough, he administers medicine and cures them right away. Therefore, my second brother’s fame is limited to our village — he’s considered a doctor who only treats minor ailments.”
Bian Que continued: “As for me, because my medical skill is the worst, I must wait until a patient is critically ill and at death’s door. Then I administer drastic remedies and bring them back from the brink of death. And so the whole world thinks I am a divine physician. Think about it: when my eldest brother treats a patient, their vital energy is not harmed at all. When my second brother treats someone, their vital energy is slightly damaged but quickly restored. When I treat someone, I may save their life, but their vital energy suffers greatly. Tell me — who in our family has the highest medical skill?”
Summary
“The superior physician treats disease before it occurs” originates from the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon: “The superior practitioner treats what is not yet ill, not what is already ill — this is the meaning.” “Treating” (治) here means managing or governing. “Treating before illness” means taking appropriate measures to prevent the onset and development of disease. Its core philosophy in traditional Chinese medicine is: prevent disease before it occurs and prevent it from worsening once it has occurred.